Maternal mental health in a pandemic: key findings

Even in 'normal' times more than 1 in 10 women develop a mental illness during pregnancy or within the first year of having a baby. For the first time, research and insights from over 60 organisations working on the frontline during the pandemic have been brought together and analysed as a whole to see what impact Covid-19 is having on maternal mental wellbeing. ALL of the research showed a significant increase in poor maternal mental health during the pandemic: www.maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/MMHpandemic Findings suggest that new and expectant mums have been: Anxious about giving birth in lockdown, isolated from friends, family and partners Fearful of infection, for themselves or their baby Worried about how the pandemic might be impacting their baby. All have been affected by Covid-19, but not all have been affected equally. The mental health of women of colour, and those from poorer backgrounds, during and after pregnancy, has been affected the most Women's existing mental health problems or illnesses have risked going untreated or getting worse The workforce supporting women and families in the perinatal period is facing its own wellbeing challenges Demand for voluntary perinatal services has increased, whilst they themselves have been adversely affected. Perinatal mental health services had worrying gaps even before the crisis. Women and families need our support now.