HEALTH Minister Robin Swann has approved funding for the development of a new specialist perinatal mental health services for the region.
Minister Swann said: “I am delighted to announce the approved funding to establish this new specialist community service model for Northern Ireland.”
At present, mental health support for new or expectant mothers is provided in the community through general mental health services, with only Belfast Trust providing limited specialist perinatal mental health services for the region.
This new service will provide new multidisciplinary community perinatal mental health teams in each of the five Health and Social Care Trusts, and will include a new stepped care model to ensure regional consistency.
Perinatal mental health community teams will provide wrap-around maternity and mental health care to women in the perinatal period experiencing mental health difficulties.
The cost of the new specialist perinatal mental health services is estimated at £4.7m per year.
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