An Exploration of Service Delivery in Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services in Ireland

Perinatal mental health problems are a common experience for women and their families, and are associated with a significant and enduring burden of illness for the mother and her infant. Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services have recently been established in Ireland following the publication of a model of care in 2017. At the time of conducting this research programme, Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services in Ireland were operational, but a Mother and Baby Unit had yet to be established as part of these services. This research programme reports on two independent research studies which sought to contribute to the development of the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services in Ireland, and the wider evidence base on perinatal mental health services. Study one outlines an updated systematic review on the outcomes of Mother and Baby Units. Twenty-two papers were included in the final review. Findings indicate that admission to a Mother and Baby Unit benefits maternal mental health, the mother-infant relationship and infant health and development, further supporting the rationale for the provision of Mother and Baby Unit services in Ireland. Study two outlines a qualitative study exploring the relevance of an attachment informed model of mental health service design and delivery to Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services in Ireland. Fourteen perinatal mental health professionals participated in semi-structured interviews in the study. Findings of this study indicated that the practices of perinatal mental health professionals and the service delivery procedures were in line with an attachment informed model of mental health service delivery and design, supporting the appropriateness of attachment informed service delivery and design in meeting the needs of this population. The findings from these studies have important implications for the provision of perinatal mental health services in Ireland, including demonstrating the evidence for services which respond to the needs of both the mother and infant during this vulnerable period in their lives.