New name for the Mother and Infant Mental Health Service
Date added: 29 July 2021
The Mother and infant mental health service (MIMHS) is changing its name to the Perinatal mental health community service (PMHCS) from 1 September 2021.
In line with the NHS Long Term Plan we are broadening the remit of our specialist perinatal mental health community service. This includes:
- Increasing access to evidence-based care for women with moderate to severe perinatal mental health difficulties, including improving access to evidence-based psychological therapies
- Increasing the availability of specialist perinatal mental health community care for women who need ongoing support from 12 months after birth to 24 months
- Developing Maternal mental health services with our Specialist mental health midwives to provide therapy for those who have experienced birth trauma and loss (currently piloting in east Kent).
Our updated service literature and website will be live from 1 September 2021 and this will include information on the service we provide.
- We specialise in the assessment, diagnosis and short-term treatment of women who are affected by a moderate to severe perinatal mental health illness in the preconception, antenatal and postnatal period
- We are a multi-professional team consisting of consultant perinatal psychiatrists, perinatal mental health nurses, psychologists, therapists and assistant psychologists, perinatal nursery nurses, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, social workers and pharmacists. Peer support workers with lived experience of perinatal mental health difficulties work within the service and share their own personal experiences of perinatal mental health issues and using services
- We can provide education and training to other services within primary and secondary mental health to ensure perinatal mental health needs and risks are recognised, prioritised and managed.
Self-referrals can be made, as well as referrals by any health or social care professional. Contact us at KAMNASCPT.mimhs@nhs.net (until 31 August 2021) or kmpt.pmhcs@nhs.net (from 1 September 2021) or call us on 01622 722321.
