BPS welcomes the publication of report into maternal mental health services    

The Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA), of which the BPS is a member, has released a new report outlining the lack of funding for vital perinatal mental health services at a time of increased demand for support.  

It describes how a lack of investment in maternal mental health often means women wait months to receive a mental health assessment, with many services unable to provide support for the most vulnerable women. 

The report found that a lack of funding can impact the support that maternal mental health services offer: 

• Average wait times for one-to-one therapy (following an assessment) for maternal mental health are 16 weeks, compared to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendation of 1 month. 
• Only 27 per cent of maternal mental health services support women who had lost their baby due to involvement from social services.  
• 1 maternal mental health service in the UK had already closed due to lack of funding. 

Dr Camilla Rosan, BPS Perinatal Psychology Faculty Chair, said:  

"This mapping report highlights huge progress, but it also tells us that there is so much more to do. Women and birthing people are still left waiting for months and months, still jumping through hoops and leaping over mountains to get to the evidence-based care they need and deserve. All the while their symptoms are worsening. This is time they don't have – parents and babies simply can't wait."