The NLFT Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service offers dedicated care for women with mental health concerns related to pregnancy and the postnatal period, involving psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and support workers. The service focuses on prevention, detection, and treatment of perinatal mental illness, while also collaborating with other health services to support women's mental and physical health needs.

Advice line

If you need advice and guidance, or if you have a query regarding a patient or referral, you can speak to a duty clinician on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 11am-12pm by calling the relevant number below, depending on which borough the patient lives in.

Please note: The following numbers are for professionals only.

South Team (Camden and Islington) t: 020 3317 7114

East Team (Enfield & Haringey) t: 020 3317 7198

West Team (Barnet) t: 020 3317 7001 

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

The service is able to work with people who are undergoing treatment with the team up to 24 months postnatally, when appropriate.

The SPMHS accepts referrals for women who are planning a pregnancy, are pregnant, or who have given birth within the last 18 months and:

• have been diagnosed at any time with a severe mental illness, (e.g. bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, postpartum psychosis, severe depression)
• are open to a secondary mental health service
• are experiencing new thoughts or acts of self-harm
• have experienced a recent significant change in mental state
• have a mental illness/psychological disturbance that can't be managed by primary care services
• have expressions of incompetency as a mother or estrangement from the infant
• would benefit from advice on/review of psychiatric medication during pregnancy/breastfeeding (this includes provision for preconception advice and relapse prevention work).

Exclusions

• substance-misuse problems in the absence of mental health problems
• women experiencing milder forms of perinatal mental health problems.

How to Refer