Parental Mental Health Report

Healthwatch Trafford undertook this project to understand current experiences of parental mental health support in Trafford and to assess how these compare with their previous findings from 2022. The aims of the local Parent Infant Mental Health (PIMH) pathway are also considered. 

20 parents and carers responded to a survey. While the sample is small, the findings provide insight into the lived experience of those who access parental mental health support in Trafford. 

Key findings 

• 60% of respondents reported experiencing mental health difficulties around the birth of their child.
• Among those who experienced difficulties, the most commonly reported symptoms were low mood (72.7%) and anxiety (63.6%).
• 45.5% of those experiencing difficulties reported that their symptoms were ongoing at the time of completing the survey.
• 45% of respondents did not seek support.
• Of those who did access support, 75% reported that it took too long.
• No respondent reported receiving all the help they needed; all indicated that they had received only some of the support required.
• 54% of respondents either did not know or were unsure where they would go for support if needed.

 Alongside these findings, parents described mixed experiences with professionals. Some reported supportive and helpful interventions, while others highlighted uncertainty, delays or perceived gaps in communication. Wider pressures, including financial strain, were also identified as contributing factors to parental mental health challenges. 

Comparison with 2022 

The themes identified in this report are consistent with those raised in Healthwatch Trafford’s 2022 report. Awareness of available support, timeliness of access and consistency of experience remain key areas of focus for improvement. However, there is evidence that conversations about parental mental health are taking place more routinely in some settings, and proposed pathway developments demonstrate ongoing commitment to improvement.