About our service
This service is available to women and birthing people. To keep the information clear and easy to read, we may use the term “women” in some places. This includes all people who are pregnant, have given birth, or are planning a pregnancy and who can access this service.
Perinatal Mental Health Team
Pregnancy and having a baby can be a difficult time for new parents who may be experiencing changes in mood. Up to 1 in 5 women and birthing people are thought require support for their mental well-being during the antenatal and postnatal periods.
We know women often suffer in silence. Perinatal mental health teams were set up after studies found that access to evidence-based specialist mental health care can significantly benefit mothers and their babies.
Perinatal describes the period of time from conception to the baby’s 2nd birthday. We work with women who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties during this time.
You may have longstanding mental health difficulties (including diagnoses such as bipolar disorder, psychosis, eating disorders, OCD, severe anxiety) or may be experiencing mental health difficulties for the first time during the pregnancy or in the postnatal period.
Our specialist service is available to women in the perinatal timeframe who:
- have previously experienced a serious mental illness and are planning to conceive.
- develop a serious mental illness in the perinatal period
- have had a serious perinatal illness in a past pregnancy and are now pregnant again
- are already under the care of mental health services-we may provide additional support.
- have been previously admitted to a mother and baby unit
- display moderate to severe mental health difficulties during the perinatal period.
We can also give advice to women who are taking significant medication for a mental illness and intend to become pregnant and those who maybe on a complex regime prior to conception.
Maternal Mental Health Team
The Maternal Mental Health Team work with women and birthing people who are experiencing significant mental health difficulties, directly related to their pregnancy or birth. These are most likely to be:
- Traumatic birth experiences
- The loss of a baby for any reason (including miscarriage, stillbirth, termination and neonatal death)
- Anxiety about pregnancy and or birth that may or may not be related to previous experiences (this is sometimes called tokophobia)
- Parent-infant separation at birth due to safeguarding concerns
- Severe fear of foetal medicine
How can you be referred?
If you are registered with a GP in the Somerset area – healthcare professionals (such as midwives, GP’s, health visitors, care co-ordinators) can refer you to our service.
The referral will need to be completed by your GP, Midwife or Health Visitor using our Perinatal Referral Form and then emailed to single point of access referrals inbox – [email protected]
Health professionals can download a copy of our patient referral form.
If you need advice and would like to discuss a potential new referral to the team please contact us on 01278 454185 and we would be happy to help. Our service hours are Monday-Friday 9am-5pm (except bank holidays)
We cannot accept self-referrals at this time.
What happens when you are referred to us?
After someone is referred to our service, a member of our duty team will screen the referral to decide whether we are the best people to offer them support or if another service might be more appropriate. We aim to routinely screen all new referrals within 3 weeks.
Triage: If deemed appropriate someone from our duty team will contact you to offer a triage, this is usually via a video consultation.
Assessment: If following your triage we think we are the most appropriate service for you at this time, we then offer an extended assessment with one of keyworker to help us understand the difficulties you are experiencing and identify your goals, as well as safety plan around any risks relating to you (or others).
If following our triage and/or assessment we feel that you are better supported from another service, we may signpost you back to primary care services such as your GP. We also work closely with other services such as: community mental health teams, Somerset Talking therapies teams, health visiting teams to make sure people get the right help.
Treatment and support: Depending on your needs we offer the appropriate intervention in a setting of your choice including: home, local hospital, GP surgery or other appropriate location.
Some of our group sessions such as antenatal rainbow classes, Circle of Security Parenting Course and Mindful Birthing course are hosted in specifically booked venues.
What can we offer?
We offer a specialist assessment to find out the best way to support you.
Alongside your allocated keyworker, you will create an individualised care plan to meet your needs which will be reviewed frequently.
Types of interventions you maybe offered:
- Parent infant practitioner support (for practical guidance and advice on bonding and attachment with your baby).
- Psychology (to help understand your mental health and therapies such as…..)
- Specialist medical and medication reviews
- Advice and guidance on medication especially during pregnancy and if choosing to breastfeed
- Sessions with peer support workers with lived experience
- Signposting to other appropriate services/charities/organisations
- Pre-pregnancy planning and pre-conception advice (for those who may benefit from a review of complex medications and risks)
As well as working closely with maternity services and healthcare wider teams, we have strong links with wider agencies in the health and social care sector as well as local voluntary organisations and may recommend other services for you if we feel that you would benefit more from a different type of support or do not meet our service criteria or once your treatment with our team has completed.
We also support the patient’s chosen other/partner and ensure their needs are considered and can offer a carers assessment if required.