What is the Community Perinatal Mental Health Service?
We are a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, mental health nurses, occupational therapists and psychologists, who provide specialist care to women across Ayrshire and Arran. We work with women who wish to start a family but are at risk of becoming severely mentally unwell. We also treat women who are pregnant or in the post-natal period and who have a severe mental illness or are at high risk of becoming severely unwell.
We offer person-centred, evidence-based treatments to women and where possible involve partners and families in the care plan.
We are able to work with our patients in a variety of ways including:
- Outpatient appointments
- Home visits
- Telephone consultations
- Support via Ayrshire Maternity Unit for women already open to our service
- Mother and Baby Unit
If you notice a change in your mental health during the perinatal period you may wish to consider initially making an appointment with your mental health practitioner at your GP Surgery. If you are already known to a mental health team you may wish to discuss these changes with them. We encourage that you discuss any worries or concerns that you may have with a health professional.
The referral process
Who can refer to Community Perinatal Mental Health Service?
There are a variety of different health professions that can refer to the service:
- Family doctor (GP)
- Mental health practitioner- based in your GP surgery providing mental health assessment
- Secondary care mental health services
- Ayrshire Maternity Unit
- Midwives
- Health visitors
- Family nurse
- Mother and Baby Unit
- Maternity and neonatal psychology interventions (MNPI)
It is not uncommon to feel changes in your mental health during the perinatal period. We advise you to discuss these changes with a health profession who can offer you advice and support. If required, they will then be able to refer you on to appropriate services.
We have also composed a useful list of resources you may also want to look at:
Why have I been referred to Community Perinatal Mental Health Service?
There are a number of reasons why you may have been referred to us:
- You may have been treated for a severe mental health illness in the past or currently have a diagnosis such as Bi-Polar or Schizophrenia and you are planning to start a family or are already pregnant.
- A health professional may have referred you as they may feel you are unwell at this time and could benefit from our service.
- You may have spoken to a health professional as you feel there has been changes in your mental state. They may then feel you could benefit from out support and ask for our advice on your case.
It is not unusual to feel changes to your mental health during the perinatal period:
- Around 1 in every 1,000 women experience postpartum psychosis in the perinatal period in the UK.
- Around 30 in every 1,000 women experience severe depressive illness in the postpartum period in the UK.
- Around 100 to 150 in every 1,000 women experience mild to moderate mental illness in the perinatal period in the UK.
How can we help you
How will the Community Perinatal Mental Health Service help you?
Your referral will be discussed with the Perinatal Mental Health Service. If the referral is accepted, we will offer you an initial appointment with the most appropriate clinician, who will carry out an initial assessment. We will then make am individual care plan, so that your treatment best suits your needs. As a service, we shall also offer advice, guidance and safety plans for women who are thinking of having a baby and are a high risk of severe mental illness.
What will my appointment look like?
Outpatient appointments
You will receive a letter inviting you to an appointment in a clinic area. The clinics will be at various locations and we shall attempt to offer you an appointment close to your home. You are welcome to bring someone with you to the appointment. However we will ask that we do have some time to talk to you alone.
Home visits
We may offer you an appointment within your own home. At home we will continue to offer support to you, baby and your family.
Telephone consultations
We may offer you a telephone consultation. These have become very useful during COVID-19. However, this would not be a regular occurrence. It is important that you treat this phone call as an appointment and you are in a safe place to talk on the phone.
Ayrshire Maternity Unit
If you are already open to PMHS we may come and visit you in the maternity unit to see how your mental health is after delivering your baby. We aim to be a consistent support to you throughout the perinatal period.
Mother and Baby Unit
If you require admission to Mother and Baby Unit we shall continue to be part of your care. We shall aim to attend weekly MDT meetings and continue to provide input when you are discharged.
We ask if you are unable to attend any of the appointments we offer you that you phone us to re arrange.
Confidentiality and consent
As health professionals, we are bound by law and our professional bodies to work confidentiality with patients. During your appointments, any information you share will be kept confidential and will only be passed on within our multi-disciplinary team.
Once your initial assessment is complete, we normally send a copy of this to your GP, health visitor, midwife and social worker (if you have one). We may also send a copy to your referrer.
There may be times we have serious concerns for your safety or the safety of others. If this occurs we, as health professions, have a responsibility to discuss these concerns with relevant agencies. This may be social work who can offer support.
We will also ask you if you have a next of kin that you would like us to share information with.
Useful Links
- Medication in pregnancy
- Postpartum psychosis
- Maternity and Neonatal Psychological Interventions
- Information video for west of Scotland mother and baby unit in Glasgow
Comments, suggestions and complaints
If you have any comments, suggestions or complaints please speak to the member of the team you have been working with. We will then deal with this information as required. If you wish, you can also ask to speak to our Team Leader.
Contact Us
To contact the perinatal mental health service please call 01563 826882. This phone number can be used Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm excluding public holidays.
Please note this is not an emergency contact number.