MPs bring postnatal depression debate to Westminster

MPs will discuss bringing in mental health checks for new mums as part of their six-week check up with a GP, nurse or health visitor.

The Westminster Hall debate comes after 60 MPs and Peers wrote to the Department of Health to call for the changes, which they say will help mums to talk about how they're feeling.

Dr Paul Williams MP is leading the debate: 'There's all this expectation around motherhood...you look on social media and you see all these amazing families...the reality is that it's really really hard with a newborn baby.'

'It's so obvious this is the right thing to do...and the government are making the right kind of noises.'

Minister for Health and Inequalities, Jackie Doyle-Price, told us the government are committed to giving support to new mums, adding: 'There is clearly a compelling case for this additional check-up, and it is now for NHS England to see how it could be included in the package of support we already give new mothers.'

The National Childbirth Trust, who have already been campaigning for over a year, found half of new mothers experience mental health or emotional problems while pregnant or after having a baby.

Sarah McMullen is their Head of Research: 'It is really, really common to be a challenging time emotionally for women; but women find it so hard to talk about, there's a real stigma around mental health.

'We hear women talking about being scared that somebody's going to take their baby away or feeling that they're failing as a mum...the six week check is a really important opportunity.'

The debate will take place at 1:30pm on Thursday 19th July.