Shining a light of maternal mental health
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from Monday 4 to Sunday 10 May 2026 and is a chance to shine a light on how women feel during pregnancy and in the first year after having a baby.
Each year, the week provides an opportunity to open conversations about maternal and perinatal mental health, break down stigma, and remind people that the right support, at the right time, can make a real difference for mums, babies and families.
This year, the campaign marks 10 years of progress in maternal mental health awareness. This year’s theme is all about listening to women’s voices, learning from lived experience, and recognising how important it is to feel heard, believed and supported when reaching out for care
To mark the week, and to reflect our ongoing commitment to maternal mental health through research, lived experience and compassionate care, we’re looking back at some of the stories and work that highlight why this matters so much.
· In early 2026, maternal mental health took centre stage with the launch of Maudsley Talks.
The first talk looked at how supporting mothers’ mental health doesn’t just help in the here and now; it can improve outcomes for children and families for generations to come. It reinforced the idea that maternal wellbeing is a vital part of prevention and long‑term mental health care.
Professor Carmine Pariante, an international expert in perinatal psychiatry, shared insights from more than 20 years of clinical work and research at the Maudsley Hospital and King’s College London.
He explained how stress and depression during pregnancy and the year after birth can have deep and lasting effects on both mothers and their children, sometimes even into adulthood.
You can find out more and watch Professor Pariante’s talk here: Maudsley Talks - Professor Carmine Pariante
· Our Mother and Baby Unit at Bethlem Royal Hospital continues to be a key part of our maternal mental health work. The unit supports women who become seriously unwell during pregnancy or in the first year after birth, while allowing them to stay with their babies wherever it’s safe to do so.
In 2025, we shared Tahira’s story, Tahira was admitted to the unit in 2024 after experiencing severe mental health symptoms. She and her mother, Sarah, spoke openly about her journey – including her experience of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) – just days before Tahira was discharged.
Read about Tahira’s experience: Patient spotlight: Tahira’s journey with Electroconvulsive Therapy
· And on International nurses day 2024, we focused on maternal mental health and the incredible nurses working on the Mother and Baby Unit. We spoke with nurses from a range of backgrounds, including internationally educated nurses, who bring a broad mix of skills, experience and compassion to caring for mums and babies every day. International Nurses Day 2024: Celebrating our international nurses
If you’re pregnant, a new parent, or supporting someone who is, help is available. You can find more information about our services at www.slam.nhs.uk.
· Healing Experience of Loss and Trauma Service (Helix): Helix offers specialist therapy for women and birthing people living in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham or Southwark who are experiencing emotional distress or mental health difficulties following a perinatal loss.
· Mother and Baby Unit: The MBU supports women who experience mental illness during pregnancy or after birth, including postnatal depression, post‑partum psychosis, or a relapse of a serious mental illness. The focus is on providing specialist care while supporting the relationship between mother and baby wherever possible.
· Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS): The Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS) is part of Lambeth CAMHS and supports expectant parents and parents with babies or children up to the age of five who are registered with a Lambeth GP. The team works with parents who may feel overwhelmed, as if their confidence has dipped, or who are finding the transition into parenthood more difficult than expected.
· Perinatal Service: The Perinatal Mental Health Team supports pregnant and postnatal women with severe or complex mental health needs. The team works alongside women and families to identify problems early, provide treatment and support, and help create healthier experiences during pregnancy, after birth, and in a baby’s earliest years.
