Promising Signs of Life Detected on Distant Planet K2-18b

Labour MP Laura Kyrke-Smith is set to address Parliament on Wednesday, advocating for enhanced maternal mental health care following the suicide of her friend, Sophie, just ten weeks after childbirth. Kyrke-Smith, representing Aylesbury, is calling attention to the inconsistencies in perinatal mental health services across England, which she describes as a "postcode lottery" impacting disadvantaged women the most.
Kyrke-Smith shared Sophie’s story, highlighting the distress she suffered after the birth of her third child. Despite her strong background, including a Cambridge degree, Sophie encountered severe anxiety that went unassessed during her visits to the hospital. Kyrke-Smith aims to recommend several measures to strengthen mental health support as part of the NHS's five-year mental health plan.
The coalition supporting Kyrke-Smith, including the Alliance for Maternal Mental Health, aims to highlight the necessity of incorporating mental health care as a fundamental aspect of maternity services. Campaign head Karen Middleton emphasized that maternal mental health issues are treatable and the right support can prove to be life-saving.