Labour MP Advocates for Improved Maternal Mental Health After Friend's Tragic Death

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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.

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