This website is intended for healthcare professionals

Mental distress

Maternal mental health and breastfeeding duration: the role of optimism and coping strategies

Participants were recruited using an existing database of 1505 individuals who had previously taken part in studies on breastfeeding carried out by the second author and colleagues (Keevash et al,...

Digitally enabled perinatal mental health programmes: a Scottish perspective

In Scotland, the ‘Matrix’ (NHS Education for Scotland, 2024) was formally launched on a new digital platform on 1 November 2023. It is designed to support evidence-based practice for the delivery of...

Digitally enabled perinatal mental health programmes' role in contemporary maternity care

Families need prompt access to evidence-based treatment to improve outcomes. Adversity faced by infants who have a mentally unwell parent, although not universal, can create lifelong challenges, but...

Postpartum depression: combining a mobile application with recititations from the Holy Quran in Indonesia

A randomised controlled trial using a pre-post-test time series was conducted between June and December 2020 in four working areas of the Banyumas District Public Health Centre, Central Java Province,...

Kathleen's journey: improving mental health outcomes for women with bipolar affective disorder

Given the statistics related to women with bipolar affective disorder, promoting interdisciplinary mental health services is critical across the perinatal period (Knight et al, 2022). The specialist...

Perinatal mental health support in the UK

One in five women reportedly experience mental health issues during pregnancy or up to 1 year after giving birth (Royal College of Midwives (RCM), 2023a). Research in the UK shows that overall, mental...

Support for mental health issues

In 2022, PANDAS (2022) supported more than 10 000 parents and carers in need. Demand for our services is now 70% higher than pre-pandemic levels (PANDAS, 2022). There are many reasons for this sharp...

Training on cultural competency for perinatal mental health peer supporters

A total of 10 peer supporters were trained, with nine women completing the evaluation form. This immediate feedback showed that the training was generally well received. The majority of participants...

New mothers' mental health needs

MumsAid is a multi-award winning charity founded on the belief that early identification of perinatal mental health difficulties is critical and that support should be non-pathologising and easily...

Improving care for new mothers with postnatal morbidity in Ireland

As part of a larger mixed-methods study design, a cross-sectional survey was completed. The survey instrument was developed and validated from two questionnaires: the Satisfaction with Outpatient...

Perceived risk of COVID-19 acquisition and maternal mental distress

Perceived risk is a determinant factor for the way people perceive, judge and react to the potential risks of specific hazards (Mitchell, 2015). People assess risks using a combination of...

Mind matters: Developing skills and knowledge in postnatal depression

Depression is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide and is the highest cause of disease burden in women (Dennis and Dowswell, 2013) Postnatal depression has been defined by Diagnostic...

Why choose British Journal of Midwifery?

BJM supports midwives by sharing expertise and advice to help you build confidence, grow professionally and improve care.

What's included

  • Evidence-based best practice

  • Peer-reviewed research

  • Practical guidance

  • CPD support

Subscriptions start:

From £12.75 GBP