ARC research on maternal mental health has informed national policy on perinatal mental health and maternity care. For example, findings from our research into perinatal mental health-related causes of near misses – events where a woman comes close to maternal death, but does not die – have influenced NHS clinical guidance for women with serious mental illness. Our research has also informed the development and delivery of the Maternal Mental Health Service (MMHS) programme, which aims to provide psychological interventions, integrated with maternity services, for women experiencing moderate to severe, or complex mental health difficulties during pregnancy.
Up to one in four women experience mental illness during pregnancy and up to one year after birth, often with long-term adverse consequences for both mother and child. In the UK, almost a quarter of maternal perinatal deaths are related to mental health or suicide, and 33% of women who die are known to have pre-existing mental health problems. Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in the postpartum period and one of the leading causes during pregnancy. It is crucial that health professionals can identify women experiencing mental health problems so that women can access mental health treatment and support, and we can improve outcomes for mothers and families.
The findings from our research into perinatal mental health-related causes of near misses – events where a woman comes close to maternal death, but does not die – have influenced clinical guidance for women with serious mental illness and were cited in the 2022 Royal College of Psychiatrists Annual Report, ‘Perinatal Mental Health Services: Recommendations for the provision of Services for childbearing women,’ and NHS England’s ‘Equity and Equality: Guidance for local maternity systems.’
Our research has also informed the development and delivery of the Maternal Mental Health Service (MMHS) programme, which aims to provide psychological interventions, integrated with maternity services, for women experiencing moderate to severe or complex mental health difficulties during pregnancy. Our research has informed recommendations to support the national implementation and sustainability of MMHS, and lessons to support the local development of new MMHS. The research highlighted the need for greater resources and training for women and families going through care proceedings during pregnancy. It also highlighted the need for new training to embed psychological support into maternity care in partnership with the Centre for Child and Family Justice.
The Effectiveness and Implementation of Maternal Mental Health Services (ESMI-III) study was funded through the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations’ (ARCs) Children’s and Maternity Research Priority Programme. It is part of a three-year programme aimed at identifying effective ways to implement evidence-based interventions to improve children’s health and maternity services across England. The study is led by the NIHR ARC South London maternity and perinatal mental health theme at King’s College London, in collaboration with Liverpool, Exeter and Lancaster universities. The study aims to provide timely learning from the implementation of MMHS in ‘Early Implementer’ and ‘Fast Follower’ sites, to identify barriers and facilitators to early implementation and identify optimal service delivery and context-specific barriers to implementation across the pilot sites.
Real-time feedback from the ESMI-III study has informed national implementation workshops, led by NHS England, and has shaped the development of service delivery plans during the pilot phase of the maternity and perinatal mental health transformation plan.
In September 2022, the team published a report which included recommendations for early planning of service delivery, from the first phase of the ESMI-II study. They held the first of a series of stakeholder workshops with service delivery managers and clinicians to map the safeguarding pathway within MMHS and start to develop training and implementation guidance.
Despite the challenges to implementation identified, there was a huge amount of dedication both nationally and locally to develop MMHS, reflected by the passion of teams to meet a long-standing gap in mental health needs
In the longer term, this research will help improve mental and physical health outcomes for women experiencing perinatal mental health difficulties, contribute to the overall ambition of the NHS Long Term Plan for improving access to perinatal mental health services and associated health economic savings from improving timely and effective access to maternal mental health services.
Improving access to effective perinatal mental health care is crucial to improving maternal and family wellbeing and can help break the cycle of intergenerational transmission of mental ill health. Our research has directly impacted on the preconception care that women with serious mental illness receive, reaching 8,000 women nationally per month. It has informed service delivery transformation plans for maternal mental health services at both a local and national level; and will contribute to the NHS Long Term Plan target of at least 66,000 women accessing specialist perinatal mental health services by 2023/24.
Using data from the eLIXIR database in south London, the research team have identified a strong association between perinatal mental illness and severe maternal morbidity. They have also highlighted a concerning reduction in the rate of domestic violence and abuse being picked up in healthcare settings during the Covid-19 pandemic. The team have shared these findings with local mental health and maternity services in workshops and training events. Feedback from service delivery partners suggests that the findings have impacted on personalised care planning during pregnancy for women with perinatal mental health difficulties. In the long term, this may contribute to reduced severe maternal morbidity and mortality in women with mental health difficulties.
Public and patient and stakeholder involvement and engagement (PPIE) has been central to this research:
The research team have secured further NIHR ARC funding to develop their research in perinatal mental health through the NIHR ARC national priority programme, including: