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.

• Pregnant women
• Fathers and partners
• Families and carers
• Healthcare professionals 

• Perinatal mental health covers a range of conditions during pregnancy and the first year after birth.
• 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.
• Early support is important and if you are concerned, speak to your midwife, GP or obstetrician during your appointments to ensure you get the support you need.

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.

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

Click here for easy read version of Perinatal mental health services HSCT teams.

Having a child is a big life event, and it’s natural to experience a range of emotions and reactions during and after your pregnancy. But if these emotions start to have a negative impact on your daily life, you might be experiencing a perinatal mental health problem. If this happens to you there is help available.

You can download a leaflet here or a list of community and voluntary services is below:

Belfast Trust

Maternal Advocacy & Support Project (Mas) - www.wrda.net/projects/maternal-advocacy-and-support-project

Windsor Women’s Centre Mas – 02890 235451  windsorwomenscentre.com/ 

Falls Women’s Centre Mas – 02890 327672  www.fallswomenscentre.org/ 

Ballybeen Women’s Centre Mas – 02890 481632  www.ballybeenwomenscentre.org/ 

Ballybeen Women’s Centre Young Mums Mas (age 16-25)

The Parent Rooms – 0289538 0404 hello@theparentrooms.co.uk, www.theparentrooms.co.uk/

South Eastern Trust

Atlas Centre Mas www.atlaswomenscentre.co.uk/

02892 605806

Atlas Centre, Young Mums Mas (age 16-25)

Northern Trust

Mums the Word – Glenravel Community Hub  mumstheword2024@hotmail.com

(affiliated with Mas)

Dads Voice 
028 25648229 
info@turningpointni.co.uk

Southern Trust

Centred Soul, Newry info@centredsoul.co.uk 

www.centredsoul.co.uk/ 

Chrysalis Women’s Centre, Mas 028 82622177 (affiliated with Mas)

Homestart Newry & Mourne, 028 3026 6139 ( affiliated with Mas)

Recovery college SHSCT

https://southerntrust.hscni.net/service/support-and-recovery/

https://mymentalhealthrecovery.com/

SHSCT self-help guides
https://selfhelp.cntw.nhs.uk/organisation/southern-health-and-social-care-trust
https://verve-network.co.uk/ Verve SHSCT
www.stepni.org/ STEP Dungannon 
https://viawings.co.uk/ community support for social isolated/ counselling and wellbeing services 
 

Western Trust

Women Centre Derry, Mas – 028 71267672  www.thewomenscentre.co.uk/ 

Strathfoyle Women’s Activity Group, Mas – 028 71860733

Minding Mum, Waterside

Christine McBride

Minding Mum Project Administrator
Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership
Shared Future Centre
Derry Londonderry
BT4 72D
T:02871342959

Minding Mammy Mental Health Programme, Derry Well Women – 028 71360777  www.derrywellwoman.org/

Support2gether, Omagh https://support2gether.com/
028 8262217

Mindwise Mums Wellness Project – Enniskillen
Fermanagh House, Broadmeadow Place, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, BT74 7HR
Rosie Keaney 
Wellness Development Manager
07773 220818  
Rosie.keaney@mindwisenv.org 
 

Regional

www.linkscounselling.com/ Links counselling service (Northern & Western HSC Trust Areas)
www.app-network.org/ Action on Postpartum psychosis. There is a monthly online peer support group, email: app@app-network.org or reserve your place here.

https://aware-ni.org/  AWARE NI    
www.cause.org.uk/   Cause carers support 
www.birthwise.org.uk/ 
https://cypsp.hscni.net/family-support-hubs/  Family support hubs 
https://cypsp.hscni.net/ebpp/    CYPSP parent support 
www.nidirect.gov.uk/ articles/sure-start-services 
www.home-start.org.uk/pages/category/home-start-northern-ireland   
https://baby-basics.org.uk/locations   practical support for baby and toddler items. 

Perinatal Mental Health Symptom Checker - 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 Perinatal Mental Health page | HSC Public Health Agency