Ellmina McKenzie

Perinatal mental health refers to emotional well-being during pregnancy and the first year after birth and is recognised globally as a significant public health issue. In England, around 600,000 women and birthing people give birth annually, with up to one-in-five experiencing mental health problems during this time. Alarmingly, suicide remains the leading cause of late maternal deaths in the year after childbirth. Despite national efforts to improve perinatal mental health care, significant disparities persist; particularly for ethnic minority women and birthing people, who face higher risks and greater barriers to accessing care, including: delays, language barriers, and a lack of culturally appropriate care.

Integrated perinatal mental health care is a coordinated approach that ensures women receive timely, appropriate support for mental health needs during pregnancy and the first year after birth, through collaboration between maternity, primary care, and mental health services. It presents a crucial opportunity to reduce inequalities and address racial and structural disparities for underserved communities by offering holistic support and strengthening links between primary and secondary services.

This project will explore the extent to which more coordinated perinatal mental health care pathways can improve access and outcomes for ethnic minority women and birthing people during the perinatal period. The findings will help to inform efforts to deliver more equitable, accessible, and culturally responsive perinatal mental health care. 

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