With more women needing mental health support during pregnancy and in the postnatal period, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is putting perinatal mental health in the spotlight at its 2025 Conference. Delegates from the midwifery community, who are gathering in Birmingham this week, will hear from experts about how to deliver the vital support needed.
The RCM has long raised the need for better perinatal mental health support, with investment not only in services, but also the midwives that provide them. The conference sessions highlight the importance of core themes like early intervention, accessible support and compassionate care.
Janet Fyle, who leads on perinatal health at the RCM, said:
“Perinatal mental health issues affect one in five women, but services remain inconsistent across the UK. This isn’t about the baby blues: that downplays the very real struggles that women experience during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. The RCM has been calling for better investment in perinatal mental healthcare. There is some brilliant work going on across the country, which many of our sessions this week illustrate, but women should have access to these wherever they live. Specialist midwives are important, but we need to ensure that all midwives are educated and supported to spot the signs of poor mental health from the women in their care. With suicide one of the biggest causes of death among women during pregnancy or in the six-month postpartum, this should be a key priority for policymakers.”
In one of the sessions, midwives and maternity support workers from across the UK will hear from Professor Heather O’Mahen, a clinical psychologist from the University of Exeter and National Clinical Advisor and postpartum psychosis awareness campaigner, Chris Wasley. The session aims to confront gaps in mental health care provision for women before and after birth. The panel will also include Amy Lewis, specialist perinatal mental health midwife, at the Betsi Cadwalder University Health Board.
Focussing on safety in midwifery, the RCM Conference will feature a host of speakers on a range of key subjects. The conference will also host workshops where attendees can learn from experts in a safe environment.
The conference, at the ICC Birmingham on 30 April and 1 May, is set to draw hundreds of midwives, maternity support workers (MSWs), policymakers and researchers.
Delegates will hear from those working in academic or clinical settings showcasing examples of good practice, understanding their findings and how they can use them to enhance safety and health outcomes in midwifery.
The conference is an opportunity to be part of the wider midwifery community and network. It is a place to learn from others, discover career development options and hear about the latest research in midwifery and related health issues.
ENDS
NOTES
Interviews available upon request. To contact the RCM Media Office call 020 7312 3456, or email media@rcm.org.uk
Notes to Editors
- ‘Supporting minds, nurturing futures: Advancing perinatal mental health care’, will take place on 1 May.
- The RCM’s Annual Conference takes place at the ICC Birmingham on the 30 April and 1 May 2025.
- The theme of this year’s conference is Stand out speak up: Our midwifery community in action. Read more about that here
