NEW and expectant mothers in South Gloucestershire will now have access to specialist mental health support.

Across South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset, 3,000 women a year have concerns about their emotional wellbeing either during pregnancy or shortly after their baby is born.

The new mental health service run by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) has begun this month.

It helps to ensure those women with the most serious mental health needs will get fast access to specialistcare and support.

Their team, will include a consultant psychiatrist, clinical psychologist and specialist practitioners, who will act to ensure healthcare professionals are better equipped to identify women who have, or are at risk of developing mental health problems.

The NHS Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset Clinical Commissioning Groups will build on the £1.3 million funding from NHS England for the service.

On behalf of the groups, Dr Kirsty Alexander, clinical lead for maternity services, said: “As many as 400 women in this area every year will experience serious mental health problems during or after their pregnancy.

“The impact can be very serious, not just for the woman and her family, but for the long-term emotional health of her baby.

“This new funding means we can expand the highly skilled, specialist care already set up for Bristol – across the whole area.”

If women or their families have concerns about mental health during pregnancy they should speak to their midwife, health visitor or GP.