People who have been struggling with their mental health following the arrival of a child are being reminded they are not alone, following an increase in demand for support services.
Referrals to community perinatal mental health services across the region have risen by around 80% in the last three years.
The area’s two community perinatal mental health teams, run by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) received 4,816 referrals to the service in 2024/25, an increase from 2,668 in 2022/23.
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week took place earlier this month, highlighting that one in five people experience a perinatal mental health problem.
Around 70% of those who give birth are thought to hide or underplay mental health difficulties, often due to feelings of shame or guilt.
The increase in referrals suggests better awareness and identification of maternal mental health difficulties, but it also demonstrates the role of specialist perinatal mental health services.
Becky Eva, Clinical Development Lead for Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Services at AWP, said: “There are several factors contributing to this recent increase, but it is likely that greater awareness of our services by clinicians and a better understanding of perinatal mental health, among the general public have played a significant role.
“Both perinatal teams within BNSSG and BSW have worked closely with partner organisations across maternity, health visiting, social and primary care, to ensure a single point of access for all referrals who experience mental health needs in the perinatal period.
“This has enabled timely access to specialist assessment and NICE-recommended evidence-based treatment, where clinically indicated.
“AWP’s perinatal service provides a comprehensive range of training to aid clinicians, support people in the perinatal period, help recognise the signs of perinatal mental ill health, and understand the role of the specialist teams, including New Horizons, our local Mother and Baby Unit. This helps ensure clear pathways into specialist perinatal mental health care.”
NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) identify that mental health problems during the perinatal period can frequently go unrecognised and untreated, with some people not seeking help because of the fear of stigma, or fear of intervention by social services.
If left untreated, perinatal mental health problems can have significant and long-lasting effects on the woman and her family, as well as on children’s emotional, social and cognitive development.
This highlights the importance of identifying and treating perinatal mental health early.
One mother who was referred to AWP’s specialist community perinatal mental health team was Becky from Bath.
She said: “The transition from woman to mother was one of the biggest, most confusing changes I’ve ever been through. I felt like I lost myself overnight.
“For me, 6PM was the worst. Like clockwork, it kicked off the bedtime routine, and I just knew I was in for another 12 hours of feeding, crying, bouncing—so much bouncing—nappy changes, and barely-there co-sleeping.
“I was already beyond exhausted, totally out of it. And I’d think, ‘How am I supposed to get through this?’ Eventually, I built up the courage to tell the perinatal mental health team.”
Becky met with the team from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) towards the end of 2023, after speaking to her health visitor.
She continued: “Instead of judging me, they met me with so much empathy and understanding. I learned that intrusive thoughts like the ones I was facing are actually really common, especially in new mums. And the fact that I was horrified by them – that I didn’t want to think them -meant I was not a danger to my baby.”
If you feel that you, or someone you know, is experiencing mental health needs in pregnancy or in the post-natal period, reach out to your local GP, midwife or health visitor, who’s able to make a referral to the Specialist Perinatal Team in your area.
