Cornwall has introduced a new maternal mental health initiative with the launch of the Perinatal Loss and Trauma Team (PLTT). This specialized team offers psychological support to individuals who have experienced loss, distress, or trauma related to pregnancy or childbirth.
Statistics from the NHS reveal that up to 20% of women face poor mental health during pregnancy and the first year postpartum. Additionally, approximately one in four pregnancies end in loss, and many birthing people find childbirth to be traumatic. With suicide being a leading cause of maternal deaths in the UK, the establishment of this service is a critical development for the county.
The PLTT operates as a sub-team within the Community Perinatal Mental Health Service, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023. The new team provides evidence-based mental health interventions for individuals experiencing moderate to severe distress related to pregnancy and birth. This includes treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and severe fear of childbirth, as well as psychological therapy for those suffering distress following pregnancy loss at any stage.
The team also collaborates with local partners to support individuals who are separated from their babies at birth.
Emy Snell, a clinical psychologist with the PLTT at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, emphasizes the importance of the new service. “The journey to pregnancy and parenthood is not always straightforward,” Snell notes. “For many, this period is filled with excitement and joy. However, for others, it can be marred by fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Our aim is to provide a safe space for individuals to share their experiences, understand what has happened, and explore coping strategies and interventions.”
The PLTT is composed of skilled practitioners, including psychological practitioners and mental health workers. One such practitioner, Vicky, shared her personal experience with the team. After losing her baby, Anna, at 18 weeks, Vicky received Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy from the PLTT. EMDR is a technique used to help individuals process and recover from traumatic experiences.
“I had flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, especially during my subsequent pregnancy,” Vicky recounted. “I was unfamiliar with EMDR but was eager to try anything that might help. The results have been transformative. I no longer experience flashbacks and can revisit places I had previously avoided. I now feel happy and can talk about Anna without distress. I feel like I have been given my life back.”
The PLTT also offers support through a specialist perinatal mental health midwife and plans to include peer support workers—individuals with lived experience—in their team. Snell highlights the benefit of having a mental health midwife on the team. “This role allows us to integrate specialist midwifery knowledge into our psychological interventions, offering a more holistic approach to support,” she explains. “Our midwife acts as a crucial link between mental health and midwifery services.”
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