Community

The specialist perinatal community mental health services provide assessment, treatment and care to women (16+) who are:

  • within the perinatal period and become mentally unwell
  • experiencing existing mental health difficulties who become unwell within the perinatal period.

If the woman is already accessing support from a local mental health team perinatal services will work alongside the existing team to address the perinatal mental health specific issues.

All referrals are triaged by a Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner on a daily basis during the working week.

 A referral form can be found on the Trust website. Once the referral form is fully completed please email southstaffsperinatalmaternalmentalhealthteam@mpft.nhs.uk or perinatal.shropshirecommunityteam@mpft.nhs.uk  

We do not accept community crisis referrals, as we are tertiary service. If referrals are received by local Pathway teams as urgent/crisis it is up to that team to assess first and then discuss with us prior to processing a referral. 

Preconception:

  • Preconception counselling (what it involves) for women with existing severe and enduring mental health difficulties and for those who have had a previous post-partum psychosis.
  • Preconception counselling for tokophobia (fear of childbirth)

Antenatal:

  • Women in the antenatal period who are experiencing a moderate to severe depression.
  • Diagnosis of Bi-polar disorder.
  • Previous post-partum psychosis.
  • Previous depression resulting in hospital admission.
  • Women with existing severe and enduring mental health difficulties where professionals need to co-work or seek specific advice.
  • Family history of Bipolar illness.
  • Family history of post-natal depression.
  • Experiencing Tokophobia (a severe fear of pregnancy or birth)
  • Pregnancy after loss. Currently experiencing moderate to severe anxiety, low mood
  • Minimum age of mother is 16.

Postnatal: (up to infant being 24 months of age)

  • Severe depression following childbirth.
  • Post -partum psychosis or manic episode.
  • Attachment disorder
  • Currently experiencing moderate to severe anxiety, low mood and/or post-traumatic stress symptoms associated with their maternity experience/infant
  • Pregnancy loss (Miscarriage, still birth, Termination of pregnancy) Currently experiencing moderate to severe anxiety, low mood – (Loss occurred in the last 12 months)
  • Minimum age of mother is 16.