Parliamentary briefing highlights gaps in perinatal mental health care across England, raising concerns for mothers.
Suicide remains the leading cause of maternal death in the year after childbirth, according to a new parliamentary briefing.
The report, published by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) and co-founded by the British Psychological Society, estimates around 130,000 women each year experience mental health problems during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth.
130,000 women roughly equates to one in four.
Researchers warn that without urgent support, mental health problems can disrupt mother-infant bonding and increase the risk of emotional, behavioural and cognitive difficulties in children that may persist into adolescence.
According to the findings, suicide is the leading cause of death between six weeks and one year after pregnancy. Between 2021 and 2023, one in three women who died from mental health-related causes had received the recommended care, suggesting existing systems are not sufficient.
The financial cost is also high. Untreated perinatal mental health problems are estimated to cost the UK £8.1bn each year. Researchers say that investing £124m annually in training health visitors and midwives could bring nearly £500m in benefits over ten years.
Access to care remains something of a lottery. Specialist perinatal mental health services are considered world leading, but they mainly focus on women with moderate to severe needs. An estimated 115,000 women with mild to moderate systems fall into a gap, despite still requiring support.
The research also points to clear inequalities. Black women and those from minority ethnic backgrounds are less likely to be asked about their mental health or to receive support. What’s more, women living in more deprived are less likely to experience these problems than those in wealthier areas.
The government’s Women’s Health Strategy, updated in April 2026, includes a £200m investment in the Healthy Babies Programme and Best Start Family Hubs. However, researchers and charities say staff shortages remain a major issue, with the number of health visitors falling by 21% since 2016.
‘Fear of judgement deters many women from disclosing mental health problems,’ the report notes, with an estimated 70% hiding their struggles. Without changes to funding, workforce capacity and continuity of care, experts say thousands of mothers and babies will continue to fall through the cracks.
The full report can be read here.
Image: Max Böhme/UnSplash
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