New Mental Health Support Team Launched in Cornwall to Help Those Facing Pregnancy-Related Trauma

Cornwall’s New Perinatal Loss and Trauma Team Offers Crucial Support

A new maternal mental health team, the Perinatal Loss and Trauma Team (PLTT), has been launched in Cornwall, providing psychological support to women and birthing people who have experienced distress, trauma, or loss during pregnancy or birth. This development is part of the Community Perinatal Mental Health Service, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2023.

Addressing a Growing Need

NHS statistics reveal that up to 20% of women experience poor mental health during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth. Additionally, approximately one in four pregnancies end in loss, and many birthing people find the birth experience traumatic. With suicide in the year following childbirth being a leading cause of maternal deaths in the UK, the introduction of the PLTT is a vital addition to Cornwall’s healthcare landscape.

The PLTT offers evidence-based interventions for those experiencing moderate to severe mental distress related to pregnancy or birth, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. The team also provides support for people with severe fears related to pregnancy or birth, and for those facing severe mental distress following pregnancy loss.

Specialist Care and Collaboration

Emy Snell, a clinical psychologist working for Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, highlights the importance of the service, stating, “The journey to pregnancy and parenthood is not always straightforward. For many people, pregnancy and birth are often associated with excitement and joy. Unfortunately, for others, it can be a time filled with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.”

The PLTT includes a team of skilled practitioners, such as psychological practitioners and mental health workers, who work closely with local partners to support individuals, including those separated from their babies at birth. Emy added, “We aim to provide a safe space for people to share their experiences, work together to make sense of what has happened, and explore ways of coping.”

One notable treatment offered by the PLTT is Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which has been instrumental in helping people like Vicky, who lost her baby, Anna, at 18 weeks of pregnancy. Vicky shared her experience, saying, “I am lost for words when I try to explain how EMDR works. I do not have flashbacks anymore. I feel happy and the world does not feel dark. Now when I think about my baby Anna, I feel blessed to have had her.”

Holistic Approach to Maternal Mental Health

The PLTT’s comprehensive approach includes the involvement of a specialist perinatal mental health midwife, who helps bridge the gap between mental health and midwifery services. The team also plans to integrate peer support workers, individuals with lived experience, to further enhance the support offered.

Emy Snell emphasised the importance of this holistic approach, stating, “Having a mental health midwife in our team means that we can draw on specialist midwifery knowledge when delivering psychological interventions. This helps us to work more holistically when supporting someone in distress.”

For more information or to make a referral, individuals are encouraged to visit the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust website at https://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/perinatal-loss-trauma.