Perinatal Mental Health Services
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Healthwatch Suffolk collected data between 25th October 2018 and 15th December 2018 on the behalf of Suffolk Perinatal Mental Health (SPMHS) and Public Health Suffolk (PHS). The SPMHS and PHS launched a survey to capture the experiences of both mothers and partners in Suffolk, of which Healthwatch Suffolk hosted and analysed.
148 responses were analysed, 3 from partners and 145 from mothers.
The findings of this report does not reflect the experiences of young mothers as all participants were over the age of 22.
Over half of mothers said they had experienced a mental health illness before their pregnancy, 2 of 3 male participants indicated they had experienced a mental illness before their partners pregnancy. Two-thirds of mothers noticed a problem after birth with over half noticing within the first 3 months. 70% of mothers had experienced depression and 50% had more than one type of illness. All male partners had experienced depression and two had also experienced anxiety and panic attacks. Most mothers received no help or was prescribed medication. On average, mothers rated services (GPs, mental health services, birth hospital, community midwife, health visitors) a 4.4 out of 10, with services being rated the lowest for the treatment of PTSD.
Mothers said reduced waiting times, better access to services especially in rural areas, workforce awareness and trained professionals would be improved their experiences.
This report contains a map of Suffolk showing the number of responses by location and level of deprivation.