Perinatal Mental Health Service

Our Perinatal Community Team supports healthcare professionals in Leeds with guidance, referrals, and specialist mental health care for women during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

• Referral information
• Waiting times
• Assessment
• What Happens Next? (Post‑Assessment)
• Care Plan
• Contact, Confidentiality and Consent
• Pre‑Conception Counselling
• Discharge

Referral information

This information is for GPs and other professional health workers. The Perinatal Community Service is available to women who are registered with a Leeds GP. We accept referrals from health professionals within Leeds including:

• GPs
• Obstetricians
• Health visitors
• Midwives
• Mental health teams
• Psychiatrists
• Community Mental Health Teams

Sorry, but we cannot accept self‑referrals.

If you would like to discuss a referral, please call us on 0113 855 5505, Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm.

If the person is registered with a Leeds GP practice, they may also be referred for pre‑conception counselling by their GP or Community Mental Health Team.

Referral Forms and Documents

• Download our referral form
• Download our referral guidelines
• Download our pre-conceptual counselling referral form
• Download the Leeds Perinatal Mental Health Pathway document

All completed forms should be emailed to the Perinatial duty desk. We’re happy to take telephone enquiries from other professionals who are working with families.

Waiting Times

We aim to see referrals within 48 hours if urgent or within 14 days if it’s less urgent. We see mums for assessments during office hours, Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm.

Assessment

A mental health professional will complete an initial assessment with you which will usually take place at The Mount Hospital. It will last approximately 90 minutes.

A home visit can be arranged should you have difficulty attending your appointment at The Mount.

These appointments are an opportunity for you to discuss any current difficulties and for us to gain some background information in order to come to a joint understanding of what may help you recover.

If it is felt that our team is not the most appropriate for you, we will discuss other useful services that may be able to help you.

What to Bring

• You may wish to bring your partner, relative or friend with you.
• We would encourage you to bring your baby to your appointments.
• It is often not appropriate to discuss difficult issues around older children and alternative childcare arrangements should be made for them.
• If you are pregnant please bring your hand-held maternity notes.

What Happens Next? (Post‑Assessment)

If it is decided that what we offer is right for you, you will be allocated to a member of our team who will work with you to agree a care plan to meet your needs.

We offer a variety of support options including:

• a complete assessment including liaison with other professionals to inform future care planning and support.
• preconception counselling
• care planning and co-ordination in the perinatal period
• specialist advice on risks and benefits of medication in pregnancy and breastfeeding
• nursery nurse sessions including baby massage and sensory play
• video-interaction guidance – a mother infant intervention to improve attachment and communication
• group work
• family work
• peer support
• partner support
• young carers’ support
• psychological therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy

Care Plan

You will work with a member of our team to agree a care plan to meet your needs. This may include:

• care planning and co‑ordination in the perinatal period
• ongoing monitoring
• psychological therapies
• family and partner support
• liaison with other health professionals

Contact, Confidentiality and Consent

How we contact you

You may be contacted:

• by phone
• by email
• or face-to-face at appointments (including home visits if needed)

Confidentiality

You can expect the details of any assessment and treatment plan to remain confidential between you, the team and other involved professionals.

If you would like to know more about confidentiality and the information kept about you, please visit the how we use information about you page.

Consent to treatment

It is important that you understand any risks, benefits and alternatives before you agree to treatment. If you feel unsure about giving your consent please ask a member of staff for further information.

Pre‑Conception Counselling

We provide pre-conception counselling to women at risk of developing significant mental health difficulties during pregnancy or after the birth of their child.

This is recommended if you have experienced serious mental health difficulties such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe depression, or previous postpartum psychosis.

If you have a family history of postpartum psychosis or bipolar disorder, it is also advisable to be counselled on the risks of becoming unwell and management options.

During Pre‑Conception Counselling You May Discuss:

• your individual risk of becoming unwell in the perinatal period
• whether treatment will be beneficial during pregnancy and after birth
• risks and benefits of different medication during pregnancy and in breastfeeding; this may include meeting with a pharmacist and discussing the most recent information on medication
• what can be done to prevent relapse
• support and monitoring during pregnancy and post delivery
• early warning signs of illness
• care available should you become unwell

Pre-conception counselling takes place at the Perinatal Mental Health Service, which is located at Parkside Lodge. In most cases a single 90 minute appointment is sufficient, sometimes a follow up appointment is arranged to discuss things further.

The pre-conception counselling clinic provides consultation, information and advice, not ongoing care. Referral to our service for treatment may be one of our recommendations should you become pregnant.

You may wish to bring your partner to the appointment to involve them in understanding risks and treatment decisions.

With your consent we usually send a copy of the clinic letter to your GP and other relevant professionals involved in your care. You will be offered a copy of any letters sent.

Discharge

Following treatment, you may be discharged when:

• your mental health has improved
• your agreed care plan is complete
• or your care is transferred to another appropriate service

Your GP and any relevant professionals will be informed as needed.