It was a pleasure to hold a debate today (17th May) on the Maternal Mental Health Alliance’s Everyone’s Business campaign on perinatal mental health care.

Perinatal mental health problems are those which occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child – and include illnesses like antenatal and postnatal depression, anxiety, psychosis, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among others.

Sadly, they are very common with estimates showing that anywhere between 10% and 20% of women experience them – however there is help out there.

Scotland’s mental health services have come a long way since I first became a mental health nurse over thirty years ago, however we can always work to improve them.