Report

Pregnant then blue?

This report from UK think tank Pro Bono Economics highlights the potential of targeted, evidence-based interventions to address maternal mental health effectively.

Maternal mental health: Evidence for policy action. The early years of a child’s life are critical but challenging for mothers, with up to 1 in 5 new and expectant mothers experiencing depression. Many do not receive adequate support due to:

• Missed diagnoses: Up to half of cases go undetected, with women from minority ethnic backgrounds more likely to be overlooked.
• Access barriers: There are long waitlists and services may not be tailored to specific needs. Untreated maternal depression can have lasting impacts on mothers, children, and families.

MumsAid’s counselling service has shown to have significantly improved mental health outcomes and confidence among mums. Among mothers receiving their counselling: 1 in 3 are estimated to make a sustained recovery from depression. 76% experience significant improvement in their depression.

Our analysis estimates the economic value of improved quality of life at £10,000 per participant over the course of a year, even using cautious assumptions. Just 1 in 7 recoveries have to be attributable to the programme to justify the costs.

This highlights the potential of targeted, evidence-based interventions to address maternal mental health effectively.