health
Mental illness is pregnancy’s No 1 complication. It’s time to support those who suffer from it
Integrated mental healthcare for maternity services, more perinatal psychiatrists and public awareness of the problem could deliver meaningful change
TL;DR
- Up to one in five women experience a diagnosable mental health condition during pregnancy or the year after birth, making it the leading complication.
- Perinatal mental health issues are often dismissed as normal pregnancy symptoms, leading to delayed or inadequate care.
- Australia has pockets of specialized care, but access is uneven, with long waitlists in the public system and higher costs in private care.
- Cultural romanticization of motherhood can lead women to view their distress as personal failure, exacerbating suffering.
- Routine psychosocial screening is recommended, but effective treatment pathways are often lacking, rendering screening insufficient.
- Key changes needed include integrating mental health care into maternity services, investing in the perinatal mental health workforce, and improving public literacy about these conditions.
- With appropriate treatment and support, women like the composite patient 'Mia' can recover.