New research from the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Mental Health Watch has found that 16,000 women have been unable to access perinatal mental health support in England so far during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, coronavirus was not the only cause of this gap in treatment, with the Royal College of Psychiatrists citing ‘lack of local investment in perinatal mental health services’ that has led to a ‘postcode lottery’ of varying support levels for those in need.
Mental Health Watch found that 47,000 women were expected to get support for perinatal (pregnancy or early motherhood) mental health issues from 2020-2021, but the most recent data for 2020 suggested that only 31,261 had managed to access help. Mental Health Watch analyses public NHS data to track the overall performance of mental health systems.
On average, 7% of pregnant women and new mothers in England are expected to need mental health support from local services. The overall figures for perinatal mental health issues are much higher, with as many as one in five expectant or new mothers experiencing a mental health problem, such as anxiety, pre- or post-natal depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or post-partum psychosis.
We can reasonably expect that the pandemic will put added complications onto any pregnancy, as social distancing measures and lockdowns have left many people feeling isolated; expectant mothers have had to attend medical appointments alone and even give birth without their partners.
Perinatal support networks have also changed, with many group meetings cancelled or moved online (which then puts anyone without reliable internet access at a disadvantage). Baby activity groups have been suspended, and play areas and nurseries have also been affected.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has called for more funding in perinatal mental healthcare, and more investment to close the gaps in care standards across different parts of England. Last year it also drew attention to problems in Scotland, where there are only two mother and baby mental health units, and where huge swathes of the country do not have a perinatal mental health service. The NSPCC has also indicated similarly patchy provision in Wales and Northern Ireland, with the latter having the poorest perinatal mental health services in the UK and no training standard on the topic.
It is clear that more needs to be done to support pregnant women and new mothers, and not just because of the pandemic’s impact; access to services was already difficult before we faced a global health crisis. Covid-19 has increased demand for already stretched mental health services, and we cannot afford to fail people at their most vulnerable.
If you are worried about someone who is pregnant or a new parent, we can help. Our psychologists work with clients to develop a treatment plan that fits their needs and circumstances. We have a network of professionals around the UK (and in Ireland, through our sister organisation, Lighthouse Psychology) who will provide tailored local support.
Written by guest contributor Vikram Das for Dr Chrissie Tizzard, Chartered Consultant Psychologist, PsychD, BSc, MSc, C.Psychol, C.Sci, AFBPS. Dr Tizzard is the Clinical Director of Christine Tizzard Psychology (ctpsy.co.uk) and Lighthouse Psychology (lighthousepsychology.ie).