Released on: 18 March 2015
In response to the Falling through the Gaps report from the Royal College of General Practitioners and Centre for Mental Health, Elizabeth Duff, Senior Policy Adviser at NCT said:
“These findings further emphasise the unacceptable state of maternal mental health services. It can be very difficult for women to talk about depression so the onus should not be placed on them to do so. Our own research revealed 29% of women said their GP did not ask them about any emotional or mental health issues in their six week check-up. GPs must ask the recommended questions to ensure mothers suffering from mental health problems are identified early and treated without delay.
“Many women feel isolated in their new role as a mother and this can lead to postnatal depression. If any parent is feeling alone and overwhelmed, we encourage them to contact their local NCT Baby and Bumps group where they can find a support network of parents in their area.”