NEW and expectant mums can access specialist support during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week.

Lancashire Care Foundation Trust's specialist perinatal community mental health service offers psychiatric and psychological assessments and care.

This is for women with complex or severe mental health problems during pregnancy up to one year after giving birth .

The service will also provide pre-conception advice for women with a current or past severe mental illness who are planning a pregnancy.

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week takes place between April 29 and May 3.

Dr Gillian Strachan, consultant psychiatrist at Lancashire Care, said: “Up to 20 per cent of women develop a mental illness during their pregnancy or within the first year after having their baby. This includes mental illness existing before pregnancy, as well as illnesses that develop for the first time, or are greatly exacerbated during the perinatal period. These illnesses can be mild, moderate or severe and can require different kinds of care or treatment.

She added: “We recognise that becoming a mum can be an extremely difficult time for women and their families and want to remind them of the specialist advice, treatment and support that we offer for women living across South Cumbria and Lancashire. "