Emotional and mental health support during Covid-19

Last updated on 02/11/20

Emotional health assessment via telephone at 6-8 weeks

Normally your emotional well being would be discussed at the 10-14 days and the 6-8 week home visit. Under these new circumstances we will be asking you over the phone.

We will contact you to enquire how you are feeling and ask you to complete a questionnaire with us. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was designed particularly for new mothers and helps us talk about your mental health, screen for postnatal depression and ensure you receive the right support. It would be really helpful if you can look at it before we call you.

Having a baby is one of the biggest events in a woman’s life. Very little remains the same so it can be natural to experience a range of emotions and reactions after the birth of a baby and begin the transition to life as a mum. For some mums these emotions can become difficult and start to have a negative effect on their life, and for some the relationship with their baby.

Around one in five women will experience an emotional or mental health problem during their pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. This might be a new problem or a worsening of a problem they had before. These are known as perinatal mental health problems. The health visitor along with the midwife and General Practitioner (GP) are the health professionals who have a responsibility to identify mums with these difficulties and ensure they receive the correct help and support.

However, we realise it can be really difficult to feel able to talk openly about these feelings as a new mum, it maybe feelings of,

• pressure to be happy and excited
• overwhelmed with the changes in your life
• worried you’re a bad parent if you’re struggling with your mental health
• worried that your baby will be taken away from you if you admit how you’re feeling

But it’s important to ask for help or support if you need it. You’re likely to find that many new mothers are feeling the same way.