The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal services and maternal mental health in the UK
Background COVID-19 has created many challenges for women in the perinatal phase. This stems from prolonged periods of lockdowns, restricted support networks and media panic, alongside altered healthcare provision. Aims We aimed to review the evidence regarding the psychological impact on new and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2023-01-01
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| Series: | BJPsych Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472422006329/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156839797096448 |
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| author | Lorraine S. Kasaven Isabel Raynaud Maria Jalmbrant Karen Joash Benjamin P. Jones |
| author_facet | Lorraine S. Kasaven Isabel Raynaud Maria Jalmbrant Karen Joash Benjamin P. Jones |
| author_sort | Lorraine S. Kasaven |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background
COVID-19 has created many challenges for women in the perinatal phase. This stems from prolonged periods of lockdowns, restricted support networks and media panic, alongside altered healthcare provision.
Aims
We aimed to review the evidence regarding the psychological impact on new and expecting mothers following changes to antenatal and postnatal service provision within the UK throughout the pandemic.
Method
We conducted a narrative literature search of major databases (PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar). The literature was critically reviewed by experts within the field of antenatal and perinatal mental health.
Results
Changes to service provision, including the introduction of telemedicine services, attendance of antenatal appointments without partners or loved ones, and lack of support during the intrapartum period, are associated with increased stress, depression and anxiety. Encouraging women and their partners to engage with aspects of positive psychology through newly introduced digital platforms and virtual service provision has the potential to improve access to holistic care and increase mental well-being. An online course, designed by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in response to changes to service provision, focuses on postnatal recovery inspiration and support for motherhood (PRISM) through a 5-week programme. So far, the course has received positive feedback.
Conclusions
The pandemic has contributed to increased rates of mental illness among pregnant and new mothers in the UK. Although the long-term implications are largely unpredictable, it is important to anticipate increased prevalence and complexity of symptoms, which could be hugely detrimental to an already overburdened National Health Service.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:57:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-309c555bae56432c8582ee799f14a9b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-4724 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:57:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJPsych Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-309c555bae56432c8582ee799f14a9b42023-03-09T12:29:27ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242023-01-01910.1192/bjo.2022.632The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal services and maternal mental health in the UKLorraine S. Kasaven0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1752-5220Isabel Raynaud1Maria Jalmbrant2Karen Joash3Benjamin P. Jones4Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK; Cutrale Perioperative and Ageing Group, Imperial College London, UK; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Charlottes and Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College NHS Trust, UKWest Middlesex University Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals NHS Trust, UKSloane Court Clinic, UKDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Charlottes and Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College NHS Trust, UKDepartment of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Charlottes and Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College NHS Trust, UK Background COVID-19 has created many challenges for women in the perinatal phase. This stems from prolonged periods of lockdowns, restricted support networks and media panic, alongside altered healthcare provision. Aims We aimed to review the evidence regarding the psychological impact on new and expecting mothers following changes to antenatal and postnatal service provision within the UK throughout the pandemic. Method We conducted a narrative literature search of major databases (PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar). The literature was critically reviewed by experts within the field of antenatal and perinatal mental health. Results Changes to service provision, including the introduction of telemedicine services, attendance of antenatal appointments without partners or loved ones, and lack of support during the intrapartum period, are associated with increased stress, depression and anxiety. Encouraging women and their partners to engage with aspects of positive psychology through newly introduced digital platforms and virtual service provision has the potential to improve access to holistic care and increase mental well-being. An online course, designed by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in response to changes to service provision, focuses on postnatal recovery inspiration and support for motherhood (PRISM) through a 5-week programme. So far, the course has received positive feedback. Conclusions The pandemic has contributed to increased rates of mental illness among pregnant and new mothers in the UK. Although the long-term implications are largely unpredictable, it is important to anticipate increased prevalence and complexity of symptoms, which could be hugely detrimental to an already overburdened National Health Service. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472422006329/type/journal_articlePerinatal psychiatrycommunity mental health teamsanxiety disorderspsychosocial interventionspatients |
| spellingShingle | Lorraine S. Kasaven Isabel Raynaud Maria Jalmbrant Karen Joash Benjamin P. Jones The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal services and maternal mental health in the UK BJPsych Open Perinatal psychiatry community mental health teams anxiety disorders psychosocial interventions patients |
| title | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal services and maternal mental health in the UK |
| title_full | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal services and maternal mental health in the UK |
| title_fullStr | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal services and maternal mental health in the UK |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal services and maternal mental health in the UK |
| title_short | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal services and maternal mental health in the UK |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic on perinatal services and maternal mental health in the uk |
| topic | Perinatal psychiatry community mental health teams anxiety disorders psychosocial interventions patients |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472422006329/type/journal_article |
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