Maternal Mental Health Survey

In conjunction with our campaign work for Maternal Mental Health Month, we're researching the support and care provisions and whether women feel the support (if any) was adequate. This survey will cover difficult topics, including postnatal depression and mental health provisions in the UK.

We think it’s really important to hear from mums on this subject to help us raise as much awareness and understanding of maternal mental health care as possible, and all responses will be kept anonymous.

However, we advise that if any of the questions are triggering for your experiences, to step away and focus on taking care of yourself as a priority.

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* 1. As an expecting, or new parent, have you struggled with your mental health in any way?

Yes

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* 2. Have you experienced any of these symptoms? (Please tick all that apply)

Feeling sad, low in mood or tearful much of the time

Feeling angry or irritable - particularly towards your partner, baby or other children

Loss of interest in your usual activities

Lack of energy/feeling tired all of the time

Trouble sleeping

Feeling tired during the day

Problems with your concentration

Change in appetite - loss of appetite or overeating

Negative thoughts - including feeling like you're not a good mother, unable to look after your baby etc

Feelings of guilt or hopelessness

Feeling anxious - including feeling something bad may happen to you or your baby

Problems bonding with your baby or no sense of enjoyment from being with them

None of the above

None of the above, but different emotional/mental symptoms

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Did you seek any help, see your GP or call any helplines?

Yes

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* 4. If you sought help, at what point did you recognise that you were struggling with your mental health and that you needed help?

While pregnant

Just after giving birth

3-6 months after giving birth

6-12 months after giving birth

After my baby had turned one

when i had another child

Years later

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* 5. If you have sought help for your maternal mental health concerns, were you encouraged by someone else to ask for help? (Please tick all that apply)

Yes- partner

Yes- parent or family member

Yes- friend(s)

No- I recognised the problems myself and knew to ask for help

Other (please specify)

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* 6. If you sought help, how long did it take to speak to your GP?

1-2 weeks

2-4 weeks

1-2 months

2-3 months

3-4 months

4-5 months

5-6 months

6+ months

still waiting for an appointment

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* 7. What sort of appointment was it?

Over the phone

in-person

video chat

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* 8. Were you offered medication? If so, was it before you were offered any other help?

Yes - before any other help

Yes - it was all i was offered

Yes - but other things were offered to me first

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* 9. If you chose to take medication, did it help?

Yes

Somewhat

For a while, and then it didn't

Eventually, after some adjustment to dosage

Unsure

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* 10. Were you offered/did you go to a mental health professional? (CBT/Therapist/ Birth Debrief)

Yes - I was offered and I decided to go

Yes - I was offered, but decided not to go

No - I was not offered and decided not to go

No - I was not offered but I found a professional on my own

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* 11. How long did it take to be seen by a mental health professional?

Less than 4 weeks

1-3 months

3-6 months

6-9 months

9-12 months

12 - 24 months

2 years +

Still waiting for the referral from GP

Still waiting for the appointment

no referral, no appointment. GP was the only option available to me.

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* 12. Did speaking to a professional help?

Yes

Somewhat

Unsure

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* 13. In Summary, what forms of help/support have you received before/ after your labour?

Chat with GP

Birth Debrief with Hospital Midwife

Birth Debrief with Private Midwife

Medication

CBT / Therapy (NHS)

Therapy (Private)

Chat with Health Visitor

Mental Health Helplines

Reached out to Mental Health Charity/Foundation

Attended a Support Group

Sought help online through a forum

Chat with friends/family

I have not sought/received no support

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* 14. Were there any other forms of help you received?

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* 15. What do you think could have been done to prevent your Pre/Postnatal Depression/PTSD/ Birth Trauma/ Other cause of mental health problem? / what could have been done better to treat you? (Please tick all that apply)

Better mental health services

More research into therapies/treatments

Better investment into women's health

Easier to contact professionals

Less waiting time

Support groups

More awareness of PND and other maternal mental health issues

Better trained staff

More fluid birth pathways

Less medicalised births

Better advocate for your choices

Nothing, my mental health issues stemmed from my child being in NICU / suffering a miscarriage / struggling to conceive /infant loss

Nothing, i don't think anything could have prevented it

Other (please specify)

Maternal Mental Health Survey

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* 1. As an expecting, or new parent, have you struggled with your mental health in any way?

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* 2. Have you experienced any of these symptoms? (Please tick all that apply)

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* 3. Did you seek any help, see your GP or call any helplines?

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* 4. If you sought help, at what point did you recognise that you were struggling with your mental health and that you needed help?

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* 5. If you have sought help for your maternal mental health concerns, were you encouraged by someone else to ask for help? (Please tick all that apply)

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* 6. If you sought help, how long did it take to speak to your GP?

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* 7. What sort of appointment was it?

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* 8. Were you offered medication? If so, was it before you were offered any other help?

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* 9. If you chose to take medication, did it help?

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* 10. Were you offered/did you go to a mental health professional? (CBT/Therapist/ Birth Debrief)

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* 11. How long did it take to be seen by a mental health professional?

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* 12. Did speaking to a professional help?

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* 13. In Summary, what forms of help/support have you received before/ after your labour?

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* 14. Were there any other forms of help you received?

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* 15. What do you think could have been done to prevent your Pre/Postnatal Depression/PTSD/ Birth Trauma/ Other cause of mental health problem? / what could have been done better to treat you? (Please tick all that apply)

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* 16. Do you have any final thoughts on how maternal mental health care is handled?