1. Home
  2. Media releases
  3. More needs to be done for women’s mental health in pregnancy says RCM on new survey

More needs to be done for women’s mental health in pregnancy says RCM on new survey

By RCM on 04 September 2017 Maternal Mental health Antenatal / Prenatal Postnatal Depression Prenatal Depression Specialist Mental Health Midwives RCM

Today (4th September) the charity PANDAS has published a survey about the problems midwives and health visitor’s face when dealing with pre and postnatal mental illnesses.

Pre and Postnatal Depression Awareness Week takes place this week September 4th – 10th.

Commenting, Janet Fyle, Professional Policy Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “This reflects the results of a similar survey by the RCM in 2014*. Support for women with pregnancy related mental health problems is improving, but there is still a long way to go.We are still short of specialist maternal mental health midwives, specialist mother and baby units and specialist services within the community where women with mental health problems can initially be supported to avoid their condition worsening. This is despite the Government’s commitments to improve services for these women and this survey shows that they need to do much more.

“The RCM along with other colleagues in organisations such as the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) have been working hard for many years to raise awareness about this issue. We will continue to press for better services and more resources, such as every maternity service having a specialist mental health midwife. The Government also need to ensure there are enough midwives so that midwives can offer these women the vital support they need.”

 

Notes to editors

The RCM recently published a new report in July 2017 ‘Every mother must get the help they need’ 


*See the RCM’s report ‘Maternal Mental Health; Improving emotional wellbeing in postnatal care’


For more information on this survey contact PANDAS Foundation http://mediateam@pandasfoundation.org.uk


Ends

 

To contact the RCM Press Office call 020 7312 3456, or email pressofficer@rcm.org.uk. 

The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/. 

Top