Community Perinatal Mental Health Team (CPMHT)

What is Perinatal Mental Health?

“Perinatal” refers to the period during pregnancy and up to 12 months postnatally. Mental health difficulties in this time are often referred to as “Perinatal mental health”. 1 in 5 pregnant people will experience mental health difficulties in pregnancy.  For some people, this might be a new mental health problem or an episode or change in a problem you have experienced in the past.

Pregnancy and parenthood are big life events and it’s often expected to experience a range of emotions throughout pregnancy and after giving birth, however if any of those emotions or experiences begin to impact on your day-to-day life then it may be an indication of a perinatal mental health problem. Although not all perinatal mental health problems require input from a specialist service, it’s always important to be as honest as possible around your mental health in this period so the support can be put in place for you.

If you have had certain types of mental illness in the past, and are planning a pregnancy, then it is important to seek preconception advice. For some women, seeing a specialist professional can help prevent problems arising later on.

What’s preconception advice? How can it help me if I’m planning a pregnancy?

Please follow this link for more information: The Scottish Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways – Preconception Advice – Perinatal Mental Health Network Scotland

Community Perinatal Mental Health Team (CPMHT)

A Community Perinatal Mental Health Team (CPMHT) has been developed in partnership with patients, clinical staff and third sector partners. The CPMHT provides a specialist service for women aged 18 and over, along with their families, across Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, and Moray. We are a specialist team providing care and treatment to women who are pregnant or postnatal and are at risk of, or are affected by, mental illness. We also offer advice to women considering pregnancy, if they are at risk of a serious mental illness.

We offer treatment in a way that is best suited to the patient, their infant and family. The treatment we offer is evidence based and each person’s needs are considered individually. Mental health problems are not uncommon during this time but they are known to respond well to timely care and treatment.

You can access the CPMHT leaflet by clicking this link (pdf) for more service information.

What are Community Perinatal Mental Health Teams? How can they help me and my baby?

Please follow this link for more information: The Scottish Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways – Community Perinatal Mental Health Teams – Perinatal Mental Health Network Scotland

Who is in our team?

Our multi-disciplinary team are a group of professionals with different skills and expertise who work together to provide a package of care and treatment that is appropriate for our service users. The team includes psychiatrists, mental health nurses, psychologists, a specialist occupational therapist, a regional nurse consultant, a psychological therapist, a specialist midwife, a specialist health visitor, a service manager and administrative staff.

Who can refer to the Community Perinatal Mental Health Team?

There are a variety of different health professions that can refer you to the team – for example:

  • Midwife
  • Mental Health teams
  • GP
  • Maternity Services
  • Health Visitor
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

If you feel you are you needing support you may wish to speak to your GP, midwife, or health professional. They can then speak to us. If you are already known to a mental health team you may wish to discuss how you are feeling with them. We encourage that you discuss any worries or concerns that you may have with a health professional.

Confidentiality and consent

As health professionals, we are bound by law and our professional bodies to work confidentially with patients. During your appointments, any information you share will be kept confidential and will only be shared with those involved in your care.

There may be times we have serious concerns for your safety or the safety of others. If this occurs we, as health professions, have a responsibility to discuss these concerns with relevant agencies.

Once you have had an appointment with the Community Perinatal Mental Health Team we normally send a letter to your GP and referrer. We may also send a letter to your midwife or Health Visitor following a discussion with you.

Contact Us

Community Perinatal Mental Health Team (CPMHT)
Fern
Elmwood
Ashgrove Road
Aberdeen
AB25 3BW

Tel: 01224 550888 (option 2)

Email: gram.perinatal@nhs.scot

Perinatal Mental Health Service

 

 

Published: 15/09/2023 14:17