Woman who suffered postnatal depression calls for more mental health support for new mothers

A woman who experienced postnatal depression after her daughter’s birth is campaigning for better mental health supports for pregnant women and new mothers.

Aolish Gormley said “postnatal care in Ireland ends far too soon”, and called for a year of postnatal access instead of the typical six weeks. 

She also called for action on long-delayed plans to open a mental health unit for mothers in crisis and their babies.

“I had a six-week check-up, and I was fine, as fine as anybody is with a newborn baby. I had no pre-existing mental health issues and no red flags for anyone to worry about,” she said.

It wasn’t until my child was six months old that I began to struggle. There’s research there to show that depression or stress can peak at six months and again at 12 months.

The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme offers care during pregnancy and for up to six weeks afterwards. Some areas, including Listowel in Kerry, now also have postnatal hubs.

However, Ms Gormley said: “By and large, that six-week appointment is more focused on the baby rather than the mother”.

Feedback to the campaign ‘A Year of Care’, including on social media, shows, she said, “you’re at the mercy of who is dealing with you”.

“Everybody is doing their best in the health service, but they’re so stretched. I would speak to mothers referred for specialist mental health help, and didn’t hear anything for six or seven months. That’s not good enough.” 

An inpatient unit for mothers in crisis was recommended in 2017, but planning is still in the very early stages.

“It’s particularly sad,” the Sligo woman said.

Mothers have contacted the campaign saying they needed to be admitted to a mental health unit, and the only way was without their babies. That in itself could send a woman into another spiral.

She has contacted health ministers Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Mary Butler.

A Department of Health response, seen by the Irish Examiner, congratulated Ms Gormley’s campaign.

“The minister is aware of the concerns expressed by mothers and families regarding the availability and consistency of postnatal supports, and a range of developments are being progressed within maternity and postnatal services,” it said.

Gaps in postnatal care featured heavily in responses to the Irish Examiner’s Women’s Health Survey last year.

‘A Year of Care’ campaign is self-funded, with a ticketed event in Dublin on May 6 called ‘Mothers Voices.’