Raising awareness of maternal mental health: Breaking down the stigma
Content warning: This episode discusses mental illness and suicide.
The World Health Organisation estimates that almost 1 in 5 women will experience a mental health condition during pregnancy or in the year after the birth. Women are more likely to develop mental health problems at this time than at any other stage of their life – highlighting that access to mental health care for pregnant women is more important than ever. In a new guideline published by SIGN, part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, it is recommended that more awareness is needed to reduce the stigma of maternal mental health, and ensure new mothers receive the support they need. In this episode, we discuss maternal mental health care and speak with experts about Scotland’s new guideline on maternal mental health conditions. We speak to Hope Cawood – a mother of two boys, who shares her experience of being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after the birth of her first son. We also speak to Dr Selena Gleadow-Ware, co-chair of the guideline development group and Chair of the Perinatal Faculty of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, and Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist, NHS Lanarkshire and Shona McCann, a Specialist Midwife in Perinatal Mental Health, NHS Grampian. For help and support, the PANDAS Helpline is available from 10am-5pm Monday – Friday (excluding bank holidays). You can reach them on: 0808 1961 776. For anyone looking for support in a crisis, the Samaritans helpline is 116 123 and is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
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You can follow the work of Healthcare Improvement Scotland at www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org
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