Calling for action in Mental Health Awareness Week
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, the College has been highlighting the suicide rate among new mothers living in the most deprived areas of the UK.
Having analysed data in the recent report by the Maternal, Newborn and Infant Clinical Outcome Review Programme (MBRRACE-UK) we identified that one in three maternal suicides occured in the most deprived communities in the UK and Ireland, compared to one in eight in the least deprived.
The RCPsych is calling for perinatal psychiatrists to be at the forefront of treating new and expectant mothers – meaning specialist perinatal psychiatric staff can liaise with and train colleagues within the wider mental health network, detecting and preventing mental illness sooner and more effectively.
Dr Livia Martucci, Chair of the College’s Perinatal Psychiatry Faculty said: “Early and continued intervention can prove life-saving.”
With the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 being ‘Action’, the College has also been highlighting some of our action-related resources this week, including
- A briefing pack to empower NHS staff to support people experiencing health inequalities
- A blog post from Lade calling for action to combat discrimination and racism in our health system, with links to actions that employer bodies and individuals can take
- A podcast exploring anorexia nervosa and the importance of identifying it early and taking timely action.
This article was included in our May 2026 Members' update.