MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL POLICY AND

COMMUNITIES

MODULE CODE: 220HSCSC/ 220HSCEL

ASSESSMENT TYPE: CASE STUDY

ASSESSMENT NUMBER: 2

SUBMISSION DATE: 26.07.19

TUTOR: DR ADE BABAYEMI

BY

VINDIRA GURUNG
ID NO: 8297040
Contents

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Introduction

This is a case study based assignment on perinatal mental health for the Local Healthwatch,
where the student will address the gap in services and how it is marginalised in society. The
student will focus on how a local initiative provide care for clients with mental health problems
by understanding the experiences of care of a specific group within the community setting.
Throughout the assignment, the student will also address learning outcomes such as relevant
mental health law to protect individuals , role of health and social care professionals in
supporting clients and the importance of working in partnership in achieving meaningful goals
for clients with perinatal mental health conditions.
There are many different types of metal health conditions but the student will specifically focus
on perinatal mental health due to the topic being completely new to the student and the interest
of exploring a new topic leads a student to not only learn but also to challenge one’s self.

Background

The period of time which includes pregnancy from conception to one year after giving birth,
also known as postpartum is called perinatal period and during those period is when perinatal
mental health occurs. 1 in 5 or 20% of women in the UK are affected by mental illness during
the perinatal period, with depression and anxiety disorders being the most common. Pregnant
women and mothers may also suffer from other mental conditions such as bipolar, psychosis,
schizophrenia and eating disorders during this period. When perinatal mental health is left
untreated, it can have significant long lasting impact on the mother, child and their families.
For example, pregnant women or mothers may have high risk of suicide and may affect a
child’s social, emotional and cognitive development if the illness in not treated. (England, n.d.)

Historically, there has been a gap in perinatal mental health services due to lack of integrated
physical and mental health care for pregnant women and mothers. In 2010, availability of
specialist services were less than 15% of localities and there was no service provisions at all in
more than 40% of localities (Rcpsych.ac.uk, 2018). Lack of integrated perinatal care in the past
had not only increased the risks to both mother and child but also escalated to needing more
serious interventions which placed an economic impact on the NHS and social services.
Therefore, The Five Year Forward View aims to meet the recommendations of NICE

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guidelines which is to end the dislocation of ‘mind and body’ by integrating physical and
mental health care (Strathdee OBE, 2015). It also implements on increasing access to specialist
perinatal mental health services in most areas of England by 2020-2021. (GOV.UK, 2017)

Case study
Head Up, Heart Strong is a short film from Devon Partnership NHS Trust, where six women
shares their experiences of most extreme episodes of perinatal depression, anxiety and post-
partum psychosis. These women speaks about how they had been supported with the right
medication and therapies (mind and body) by the perinatal mental health service in Devon
which helped them recover and are now able to enjoy motherhood. (Head Up, Heart Strong,
2014)

Appraisal of relevant law which protects individuals experiencing perinatal mental health
problems

Women are often discouraged in seeking treatment or professional help due to stigma
associated with perinatal mental health. Stigma is a negative stereotype held by society toward
an individual due to a disability, including mental disorder. For example, a women with mental
illness during perinatal period can be labelled or judged as being an unfit mother for not being
able to provide the care or bond that a child requires. Although, stigma differs from
discrimination, discriminatory behaviour occurs as a result from negative stereotype or stigma
(Moore, Drey and Ayers, 2017).
The Equality Act 2010 is the law that protects individuals with mental illness from
discrimination and gives them the right to challenge it. Although, the law itself cannot change
how people perceive perinatal mental illness, it can stop people from displaying negative
treatment to avoid facing legal actions. The law can protect women in job related cases. For
example, if a an individual is dismissed, made redundant or not accepted for a job simply due
to their history or current perinatal mental health disorder. It also protects individuals with
mental health in everyday life when accessing public services such as transportation, hospitals,
shops, restaurants, hotels, government departments and any other public organisations. Other
protections include disability discrimination as mental health is considered a disability under
the Equality Act. So, if an individual faces discrimination due to their disability when buying,

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renting or living in a property, victims can make a formal complaint and even make legal claims
to be compensated for financial costs, injury or damaged feelings. (Mind.org.uk, n.d.)

The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 is a law that protects individuals and their rights for
those who are unable to make decisions. Having a mental illness does not mean that an
individual lacks capacity as most people with mental illness do not lack capacity. However,
some individuals may lack capacity for a short period of time due to a decline in their mental
health. If an individual such as a woman with perinatal mental health lacks capacity after being
assessed, the law encourages these individuals to be involved as much as possible with
decisions that involves them, which could be their treatment options. According to the law, any
decisions made for an individual who lacks capacity must be made on their best interest. Best
interest decisions can be made by family members, health care professionals or carers.
(Mind.org.uk, n.d.)

The importance of partnership working to achieve meaningful goals for clients with mental
health conditions

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Reference

Head Up, Heart Strong. (2014). [video] Devon: Colourburn Producers.

Strathdee OBE, D. (2015). NHS England » Treating mind and body together. [online] England.nhs.uk.
Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/geraldine-strathdee-14/ [Accessed 20 Jul. 2019].

GOV.UK. (2017). 4. Perinatal mental health. [online] Available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/better-mental-health-jsna-toolkit/4-perinatal-mental-
health [Accessed 20 Jul. 2019].

Rcpsych.ac.uk. (2018). The Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways. [online] Available at:
https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/nccmh/nccmh-the-perinatal-mental-
health-care-pathways-short-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=4f52dbb3_2 [Accessed 20 Jul. 2019].

England, N. (n.d.). NHS England » Perinatal. [online] England.nhs.uk. Available at:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/perinatal/ [Accessed 20 Jul. 2019].

Moore, D., Drey, N. and Ayers, S. (2017). Use of Online Forums for Perinatal Mental Illness, Stigma,
and Disclosure: An Exploratory Mode. [article] google, JMIR Ment Health 2017;4(1):e6.

Mind.org.uk. (n.d.). Equality Act 2010 | Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health
problems. [online] Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/disability-
discrimination/equality-act-2010/#.XTXPFS3MxQI [Accessed 22 Jul. 2019].

Mind.org.uk. (n.d.). Mental Capacity Act 2005 | Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health
problems. [online] Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/mental-
capacity-act-2005/#.XTXgHC3MxQI [Accessed 22 Jul. 2019].

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