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The Southern Trust is highlighting the specialist support available to women during pregnancy and in the first year after birth. As part of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 women who have used the Trust's perinatal mental health services have been sharing their experiences.
Perinatal mental health refers to mental health during pregnancy and the first year after birth, with up to one in four women estimated to experience difficulties during this time, including anxiety, depression and more complex mental health conditions.
The Trust supports women with moderate to severe perinatal mental health needs through a dedicated multidisciplinary team, including mental health nurses, a health visitor, a midwife, an occupational therapist, a social worker, an obstetrician, a consultant psychiatrist, psychologists and a parent infant therapist. Central to this service is a specialist antenatal mental health clinic at Craigavon, which offers longer appointments and continuity of care, allowing women to see the same professionals throughout their pregnancy.
Women who have used the service described the impact as significant. One woman, Louise, said the support she received compared to a previous pregnancy was "night and day", adding: "Seeing the same faces and not having to explain my mental health history every time made such a difference. We knew we were covered." She said that knowing support would be in place from early in the pregnancy had been a deciding factor for her family.
Another woman described the clinic as "a massive game changer" at a time when she felt overwhelmed: "It made such a difference in how I felt coming to appointments. I didn't feel like a burden, and I didn't feel like I had to hide how I was feeling."
Women also spoke about the importance of involving partners in care, with one saying her husband had noticed a change in her once she began attending the clinic and that it helped him understand what she was going through. Others highlighted the need for greater awareness of the service, with one woman noting she would not have known about it without a midwife recognising she needed support and making a referral. Stigma was also raised as a barrier, with women pointing out that fears around judgement can prevent people from seeking help: "There's a massive fear that people will judge you or think you don't love your baby but that's not the case."
Consultant Psychiatrist with the Trust Dr Sarah Lowry said: "We know that pregnancy and the period after birth can be an incredibly difficult and overwhelming time for many women. Perinatal mental health difficulties are more common than people realise, and asking for support can feel daunting. Our role is to listen without judgement and provide early, tailored care, working closely with maternity and community teams to achieve the best outcomes for mothers and their babies."
Jan McGall, the Southern Trust's Director of Mental Health and Learning Disability, added: "Supporting maternal mental health is a key part of our Vision & Strategy 2030, which focuses on early intervention, joined-up care and listening to what matters most to families. By delivering specialist, compassionate support at the right time, we are helping women feel safe, supported and confident throughout pregnancy and into early parenthood."
Referrals to the Perinatal Mental Health Team can be made through a midwife, GP or health visitor. A podcast featuring clinicians and women with lived experience has been produced as part of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week and is available on the Trust's website and social media channels, or by searching "Southpod" on any podcast platform.
