NHS pledges to offer Specialist Help to Every Pregnant Woman by 2020
NHS has announced to give specialist help to every pregnant and new mother for psychological problems linked to childbirth. The new move is a part of British Prime Minister David Cameron's promised 'revolution' in mental health.
On Monday, Cameron may announce to end the postcode lottery that don't allow many women who experience mental conditions like depression to receive vital treatment that helps in reducing maternal suicide risks and protect babies. As per reports, more than quarters of the 40,000 women every year do not receive such special treatments.
The prime minister on Monday will also ask Britain to support honest national debate on mental illness and tell sufferers that they shouldn't feel ashamed. Cameron will announce that people should not consider mental illness as contagious. He will encourage people to be mature about the matter.
Cameron will also encourage people to take away the shame and tell sufferers not to feel alone. "When the clouds descend, they don't have to suffer silently. I want us to be able to say to anyone who is struggling, 'talk to someone, ask your doctor for help and we will always be there to support you", Cameron will say in the major speech.
The chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens, says the prime minister is going to pledge something that is urgently required in maternal mental health. More than 40,000 women are going to give birth to their babies, and they are suffering from mental health problem. But only one-fourth of them are receiving specialist services, while means three out of four women are still experiencing mental health problem. But by 2020, all 40,000 women will be able to get access to a local specialist team, Stevens said.