Maternal mental health service

This specialist service supports women experiencing pregnancy-related fear, trauma or loss.

The Maternal Mental Health Service (MMHS) focuses on:

• birth trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• moderate-to-severe Tokophobia (fear of childbirth)
• baby loss including miscarriages, IVF failure, stillbirth or neonatal death.   

As these issues can cause significant distress, the MMHS offers psychological assessments, evidence-based psychological therapy and specialist counselling from two dedicated clinical psychologists.

It focuses on those women with more complex needs, and those who may not qualify for perinatal mental health support (PMHT).

It has no time constraints on support, which means that conversations about baby loss and birth trauma can take place years later if necessary. 

Women referred to the service can be seen in their own homes, online or at a location where they feel comfortable. 

All referrals are screened daily and screened jointly with the perinatal team, to decide which service is most appropriate.  If the referral is not accepted, we will liaise with other services such as Steps 2 Wellbeing to ensure that access to some support is available.

The MMHS and the PMHT work closely together, so that women can be transferred smoothly between the two teams or can access both teams simultaneously if needed.

To access the service, please speak to your GP or other health professional and ask them to make a referral on your behalf.