Mental Health Services: Mothers
(asked on 19th July 2023) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department are taking to improve access to Specialist Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health Services.
Answered by
Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The NHS Long Term Plan includes a commitment for 66,000 women to access specialist perinatal mental health services available from preconception to 24 months after birth by March 2024.
This includes 35 maternal mental health services which are currently live. These services continue to be rolled out and will be available across England by 2024. These bring together psychological therapy, maternity services and reproductive health for women who have mental health needs following trauma or loss related to their maternity experience. They will also offer an evidence-based mental health assessment and signposting as required to fathers and partners of women accessing specialist perinatal mental health services and maternal mental health services.
As part of the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, the Department is investing around £100 million to promote positive early relationships and provide mental health support for families in 75 local authorities. This complements activity in the NHS Long Term Plan by including support for mild to moderate perinatal mental health difficulties and for fathers and co-parents.