On this page, you’ll find more information about perinatal mental health services in London, with answers to key questions about the service. Frequently asked questions Resources Stories Shavarnah’s story Shavarnah wanted to share her truths, the struggles she faced with her mental health as a young mum and how she created MumStyleLDN, which was her first […]
Having a baby can be joyful, exciting, and rewarding. However, it is also common for pregnant women/birthing people and new mothers or fathers/partners to experience anxiety, depression, or emotional distress. As many as one in five women/birthing people experience emotional difficulties during pregnancy and in the first year after their baby’s birth. This can happen […]
MMHS (Maternal Mental Health Services) offer psychological support for women/birthing people with moderate to severe mental health difficulties who have either experienced loss, trauma, tokophobia and PTSD associated with giving birth via four care pathways. How to make a referral Referrals can be made by any health or social care professional and self-referrals are accepted […]
Mother and baby units (MBUs) provide specialist care and treatment when a mother is suffering from a mental illness and needs an admission to hospital. These services allow for the mother and her baby to remain together, supporting their attachment and bonding, while the mother receives the care and treatment she needs to recover from […]
Community perinatal mental health teams support mothers who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health problems in the perinatal period to recover in the community. They also offer pre-conception advice to women with existing mental health problems who are planning a pregnancy. They are staffed by a range of professionals and offer family-focused interventions, and […]
What is perinatal mental health? The perinatal period is usually defined as the time between conceiving a baby and one to two years after giving birth. We know that about one in every five women/birthing people experience mental health problems during this time, making this a relatively common experience. Women may experience mental health problems […]
Perinatal peer support is an active intervention where people use their own experiences to work directly with women/birthing people and their families. Perinatal peer supporters or peer support workers have experienced some form of perinatal mental ill-health and recovery which they draw upon to offer a safe space, a listening ear and support […]
On 19 October, Healthy London Partnership’s children and young people mental health programme hosted a webinar on Advancing CYP Mental Health Equalities. The webinar was an opportunity to shine a light on some of the amazing initiatives and programmes which have been developed locally and nationally to advance mental health equalities for young people in […]
Every mental health trust in London has put in place a 24/7 crisis line for people of all ages – children, young people and adults. The lines which are free to call can provide advice to those in a crisis. These crisis lines are supported by trained mental health advisors 365 days a year. Visit […]
Recommended actions to take Support high-quality – early detection – screening and interventions for risk factors of cardio metabolic disease, linking to a range of community health promotions and wellbeing resources. Carry out the recommended physical health assessments for people on the serious mental illness (SMI) register, in line with national guidance: Comprehensive cardio-metabolic risk […]