New Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service launches in Limerick

Pictured at the launch of the new Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service for the Mid West were Maria Gibbons, CMM2 Perinatal Mental Health Service, and service user and mother of 2-week old baby Zara, Amie Naughton, Thomondgate Limerick. Picture: Alan Place.

New Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service launches in Limerick

The University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) has launched a new Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service supporting women suffering mental health problems during, and after pregnancy.

The specialist mental health service, followed by The Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Model of Care was launched by the HSE, focusing on women with moderate to severe mental illnesses during antenatal and postnatal periods, and has been promoted to hospitals in three cities including Limerick for providing women who are pregnant or given birth with mental health consultations.

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Pictured at the launch of the new Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service for the Mid West were, service user and mother of 2-week old baby Zara, Amie Naughton, Thomondgate Limerick and Maria Gibbons, CMM2 Perinatal Mental Health Service. Picture: Alan Place.

New mothers in the MidWest are able to access the service through referral by their GPs, midwives or obstetricians. The Medical Social Work Walk-in clinic which opened in March of this year at University Maternity Hospital Limerick also supplies responsive services to women-in-need.

Stress or other negative emotions during pregnancy might lead to mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder which could affect women for weeks after delivering a baby. Symptoms caused by the post-traumatic stress disorder, such as delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations affect approximately 134 women in Ireland every year.

The new Perinatal Mental Health Service team includes Consultant Obstetrician Dr. Mendinaro Imcha, Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Mas Mahady Mohamad, Medical Social Worker Eimear Smalle, and Mental Health Clinical Midwife Manager Maria Gibbons.

Other members recruited in the multidisciplinary team are Clinical Nurse Specialists, a Clinical Psychologist, and administrative staff and they will be led by the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service (SPMHS) Model of Care which has been launched recently.

Providing high-quality care for women who are suffering mental illness during their perinatal periods for their first pregnancy is the main focus of the consultant team at the UMHL and the new specialist service will be important in the training of professional health care workers to promote their medical work.

For more information on the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service go here

For more stories on the University Maternity Hospital Limerick go here