To mark International Women’s Day, Friday 8th March, Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has introduced a bill into Parliament aimed at improving mental health care for new mothers.
If passed in to law, the bill would require the routine six week National Health Service post-natal check-ups to include mental health assessments for the mother.
Wera tabled a similar bill last year to mark the occasion, which resulted in a change in the law to make upskirting a specific criminal offence.
Wera Hobhouse said: “It is extremely worrying that nearly half of new mothers who have experienced mental health or emotional issues have not had their problem identified by a health professional or received any help or treatment.
“Postnatal mental health issues are not a new phenomenon and are not uncommon. It’s time to remove the stigma, encourage new mothers to discuss their emotional well-being, and provide them with the mental health support they need.
“That is why, one year on from introducing my Bill to make upskirting illegal, I am introducing this legislation to ensure women are getting proper mental health advice and treatment as part of their six week new mother check-up.
“To allow mental health to be sidelined is a dereliction of duty of care to both new mothers and their babies.”