Childbirth-related Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Baroness Nargund Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd September 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Nargund]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the study published in the British Journal of General Practice which found that thousands of women have undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth every year.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, we take the findings of this study seriously and recognise the significant impact that PTSD after childbirth can have on women and families. Postnatal appointments provide opportunities for identification of PTSD and specialist perinatal mental health services are available nationwide to support diagnosis, treatment and professional training. The national maternity and neonatal action plan will provide further opportunities to strengthen prevention and postnatal support for those affected by birth trauma.

[Baroness Nargund (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for her reply and her ongoing commitment to improving women’s health and mental health. This new evidence highlights that thousands of women with post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth may be going undiagnosed. Will the Government use this evidence to raise awareness about childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder and work with NICE and other stakeholders to implement screening tools for diagnosis and a pathway for specialist referral in primary care so that women can receive timely diagnosis and treatment?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The key thing here is identification, because without that we cannot have treatment. Prevention of PTSD is really our starting point. I certainly agree with my noble friend that early identification is crucial and that women should be routinely asked about their mental health and birth experiences during postnatal contact. That is why training resources have been developed to support this. I can assure my noble friend that I am very keen that we continue to work with clinicians, charities and, crucially, women with lived experience, because further improvements are needed, including on how women can be identified earlier and referred for appropriate support.