Who is this page for
- Pregnant women
- Fathers and partners
- Families and carers
- Healthcare professionals
About perinatal mental health services
The perinatal period covers pregnancy and the first year after birth.
Perinatal mental health issues complicating pregnancy and the first postpartum year are common, with 10-20% of women developing mental ill health during this period. It is a significant public health issue and if left untreated, can have a devastating impact not only on the woman affected but also on her family unit.
The ‘perinatal period’ is the name given to the period during pregnancy and up to one year after birth.
There is a spectrum of ill health, with symptoms ranging from mild to moderate low mood/ anxiety through to more serious illnesses such as post-partum psychosis. The majority of women detected will experience mild to moderate symptoms and can be helped with increased support from family, maternity services, health visitors and primary care services, including GPs.
Who can develop a perinatal mental health problem?
Women can develop perinatal mental health problems at any time, no matter what age you are or how many pregnancies you have had.
The majority of women are managed by their GP, health visitor and/or midwife, including those with mild to moderate depression, anxiety and other conditions. They may not require medication and will often respond to psychological and/or social support. Women with more significant illness may require medication only or medication with the addition of psychological and social support.
Getting help and support
If you are concerned about your mental health during pregnancy or after having a baby, speak to your midwife, GP or health visitor.
They can help you understand what support is available and arrange further assessment or treatment if needed.
Depression and anxiety are the most common conditions - approximately 10-20% of women and up to 10% of fathers or partners, will experience a perinatal mental health problem.
Perinatal mental health services (HSC Trusts and Teams)
Depending on your needs, support may include:
- self-help resources
- community and voluntary services
- enhanced maternity care
- psychological support
- specialist perinatal mental health services
Perinatal mental health HSC Trust teams
There are Perinatal Mental Health Teams in each HSC Trust area and there are two groups of women who would be referred to their local Perinatal Mental Health Team for support:
- Women with a pre-existing mental health problem (such as bipolar disorder or previous postpartum psychosis). These women, although currently well, are considered to be at risk of relapse or recurrence of their illness in pregnancy or, more commonly, the postnatal period.
- Women who develop a significant episode of illness in association with the perinatal period. A number of these women may present with rapidly deteriorating illness, requiring urgent assessment by mental health services, particularly if they present within the first six weeks postnatal.
For women who are experiencing mild symptoms of mental health problems and do not fall under the above criteria of women referred to Perinatal mental health HSC Trust teams other support is available which may involve:
- Onward referral to other mental health services
- Specialist midwifery clinic for enhanced care
- Psychology referral
- Health visitor (if more than 24 weeks gestation)
- Community and voluntary sector
- Self-help resources
Other support available through regional and community and voluntary services:
- Perinatal mental health services HSCT teams [Easy read format] 2025
- Perinatal mental health community and voluntary sector services 2026
All content has been developed with invaluable input from women with lived experience and clinical experts.
Belfast Trust
| HSC Trust / Service name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| 02890 481632 | ||
| Falls Women’s Centre MAS | 02890 327672 | |
| Maternal Advocacy & Support Project (Mas) | ||
| The Parent Rooms | 02895380404 | hello@theparentrooms.co.uk |
| Windsor Women’s Centre Mas | 02890 235451 |
South Eastern Trust
| HSC Trust / Service name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| 02892 605806 |
Northern Trust
| HSC Trust / Service name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Mums the Word – Glenravel Community Hub (Affiliated with Mas) | mumstheword2024@hotmail.com | |
| Dads Voice | 028 2564 8229 | info@turningpointni.co.uk |
Southern Trust
| HSC Trust / Service name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Centred Soul, Newry | info@centredsoul.co.uk | |
| Chrysalis Women’s Centre (Affiliated with Mas) | 028 8262 2177 | |
| Homestart Newry & Mourne (Affiliated with Mas) | 028 3026 6139 | |
| Recovery college SHSCT | ||
| My Mental Health Recovery | ||
| SHSCT self-help guides | ||
| Verve SHSCT | ||
| STEP Dungannon | ||
| Community support for social isolated/ counselling and wellbeing services |
Western Trust
| HSC Trust / Service name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Women Centre Derry, Mas | 028 71267672 | |
| Strathfoyle Women’s Activity Group, Mas | 028 71860733 | |
| Minding Mum, Waterside | 02871342959 | |
| Minding Mammy Mental Health Programme, Derry Well Women | 028 71360777 | |
| Support2gether, Omagh | 028 8262217 | |
| Mindwise Mums Wellness Project – Enniskillen | 07773 220818 | Rosie.keaney@mindwisenv.org |
Regional
- Links Counselling Service (Northern & Western HSC Trust areas)
- Action on Postpartum Psychosis | The national charity for mums and families affected by postpartum psychosis (there is a monthly online peer support group, email: app@app-network.org or reserve your place here)
- Aware NI - Home
- Cause carers support
- Family Support Hubs – Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP)
- Parent Support – Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP)
- Sure Start Services | nidirect
- Home-Start in Northern Ireland | Home-Start UK
- Locations – Baby Basics - Locations (practical support for baby and toddler items)
- Signs and symptoms of perinatal mental illness | Maternal Mental Health Alliance (a resource designed to help new and expectant parents, and those around them, identify the signs of common and lesser-known perinatal mental health conditions)
- MMHA Information Centre
- Online hub for parents, families, and friends which offers:
- Clear, reliable information about perinatal mental health
- Bitesize videos from Tessa van der Vord (@mentalhealth_midwife)
- Signposting to NHS and MMHA member support services.
All content has been developed with invaluable input from women with lived experience and clinical experts.
For more information access Mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy.
PHA publications
This leaflet discusses the help available to women who experience a mental health problem in the perinatal period, the name given to the period during pregnancy and up to one year after birth.
The Regional Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathway has been developed to facilitate the prediction, detection and treatment of mental health problems in women in the antenatal and postnatal periods.