Prime Highlights:
- POSIE project launches to support mothers from ethnic minority and disadvantaged backgrounds with severe postpartum mental illness.
- The study aims to create better care during the critical transition from hospital to community support.
Key Facts:
- Suicide is the leading cause of death among new mothers, highlighting the urgent need for mental health support.
- Black mothers are nearly three times more likely to die in the first year after childbirth, while Asian mothers also face higher risks.
Background:
A new UK study aims to improve postpartum mental health care for mothers from ethnic minorities and disadvantaged areas. Called POSIE (Improving Postpartum Outcomes of Severe Mental Illnesses in Ethnically Diverse Mothers), the project is funded by the NIHR and involves universities, NHS Trusts, and charities.
The study focuses on serious conditions like severe depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and postpartum psychosis. Suicide is the leading cause of death for new mothers, so better mental health support is urgently needed. The number of mothers seeking support for mental health issues has also risen by 30% between 2022 and 2023.
There are significant ethnic differences in risk. Black mothers are almost three times more likely to die in the first year after childbirth, and Asian mothers also face higher risks. The study will look at the critical time when mothers transition from hospital to community care.
Dr. Roisin Mooney of the University of Oxford, co-lead investigator, said, “Cultural and structural barriers often prevent timely access to mental health care. This study will explore why these gaps exist and develop inclusive approaches to ensure mothers from all backgrounds receive the support they need.”
The research team plans to use clinical data and hold workshops with over 120 women from Manchester, Sheffield, London, and Oxford who have a lived experience of postpartum mental illness. Insights from this work will inform the design of culturally safe care pathways, which will then be tested at six sites across the country. A toolkit and guidance will be developed to support widespread implementation.
Shaheda Akhtar from Action on Postpartum Psychosis emphasized the importance of peer support and practical solutions: “Black and Asian women often face delays in treatment and struggle to find relevant information. Our work aims to give them the support and understanding they need during this challenging time.”
The POSIE project is a collaboration between the University of Oxford, King’s College London, University of Greenwich, University of Manchester, Sheffield Hallam University, University College London, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and multiple charities, funded by NIHR.
