The NSPCC Northern Ireland has welcomed the announcement by Health Minister Robin Swann of funding for specialist perinatal services across the province.
Caroline Cunningham, senior policy researcher at NSPCC Northern Ireland, said: “We welcome the announcement from the Minister of Health on the release of funding for specialist perinatal mental health care teams across each of the five health and social care trusts. This is a landmark moment for all stakeholders across Northern Ireland who have been campaigning on this issue for a significant number of years.
“Perinatal mental health problems are one of the most common complications that a woman can experience when having a baby, with up to one in five women affected during pregnancy and in the year after birth.
“If left untreated, they can have devastating consequences for women, babies and families. The NSPCC’s Time for Action research published in 2018, highlighted a range of challenges faced by health professionals in identifying and responding to perinatal mental health problems across Northern Ireland.
“Through our Fight for a Fair Start campaign, we will continue to campaign for families to have access to the support that parents and babies need for a healthy and happy start in life.”
• The NSPCC’s Time for Action research: https://pgj.cc/oYsHTx