A health visitor can help with a new mother's wellbeing
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Women who have a regular health visitor are less likely to develop post-natal depression, according to a new report
The study, completed by the Universities of Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield, looked at the wellbeing of 2,000 women following childbirth.
The results showed that women were 30 per cent less likely to show signs of post-natal depression if they received regular visits from a specially trained health visitor.
Lead author Professor Terry Brugha, of the University of Leicester Clinical Division of Psychiatry, said, ‘Up until now, it was thought that depression could only be treated once it was picked up by a GP or health visitor.’
However, due to cut costs, there has been a significant reduction in the number of health visitors in the UK so it is difficult for the ones that are left to carry out regular visits to all new mothers.
The government has since said that it is committed to increasing the number of health visitors.
A Department of Health spokesman said, ‘The government are working with the NHS to improve health visiting services for families.’
By Lauren King
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