National mental health unit for mothers and babies 'absolutely key' say experts

Based on a birth rate of 60,000 per year, an estimated 14,360 women are affected by perinatal mental illness annually. File picture

A national mother and baby unit that would offer specific perinatal mental health supports is "absolutely key", with more than 14,000 new mothers experiencing some form of mental health issue, resulting in some then facing separation from their baby.

Figures presented to the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Mental Health by Dr Margo Wrigley, National Clinical Lead for the HSE's Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Programme, based on a birth rate of 60,000 per year, outlined an estimate that 14,360 women are affected by perinatal mental illness annually, from just over 10,000 people who experience mild to moderate depressive illness and anxiety, to more than 2,000 who experience either Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or severe depression, respectively, and 136 women who develop chronic mental illness and 136 who experience postpartum psychosis.