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Maternity and perinatal mental health
The NHS Long-Term Plan aims to reduce stillbirth, maternal mortality, neonatal mortality, and serious brain injury by 50% by 2025. Researchers in NIHR ARC South London’s maternity and perinatal mental health theme have been leading research to ensure high-quality, equitable care for all women before, during and after pregnancy.
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About our research
About our maternity and perinatal mental health research
UK enquiries into maternal and perinatal deaths have consistently found that women from the poorest backgrounds and from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups are at greatest risk.
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Impact case study
4 Feb 2026
Improving health outcomes for women and babies at higher risk of complications during pregnancy and birth
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Latest news
21 Jan 2026
Continuous care from community-based midwives reduces risk of preterm birth by 45%
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Latest news
18 Nov 2025
Conference showcases holistic approaches to addressing inequalities in maternity and perinatal mental health
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Blog
13 Feb 2025
Improving maternity care for women at risk of early birth
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Impact case study
26 Jun 2023
Informing national policy on perinatal mental health and maternity care
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Core project
4 Oct 2021
Models of maternity care for women living in areas of ethnic diversity and social disadvantage
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Core project
15 Sep 2021
The ASPEN Study: Attempted suicide in the perinatal period
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Latest news
18 Dec 2025
RELAX team report shares reflections and tips on public involvement
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Adopted project
10 Oct 2025
Maternity experiences of mothers separated from babies due to social care proceedings (MUMS@RISC)
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Latest news
28 Aug 2025
Study suggests continuity of midwife care can improve outcomes for Black women and support uptake of breastfeeding
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Impact case study
21 Aug 2025
Improving healthcare for families with children’s social care involvement during pregnancy and the first two years of life
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Latest news
19 Jun 2025
Community-based mentoring in Sierra Leone for pregnant adolescents doubles survival rate
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Latest news
1 Apr 2025
A better start for migrant mothers and babies
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Adopted project
18 Jun 2025
Research investigates how to treat severe infections in newborn babies
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Adopted project
19 Feb 2025
Exploring the experiences of women who give birth under general anaesthetic (GABI study)
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Adopted project
23 Sep 2024
Exploring experiences of pregnancy and midwifery care for women with multiple long-term conditions (MLTC)
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Latest news
16 Aug 2024
Report identifies actions to improve open disclosure in England’s NHS maternity services when babies die or are harmed
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Latest news
10 Apr 2024
Midwife continuity of care models linked to positive experiences during pregnancy
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Adopted project
7 Feb 2024
Improving maternal and child health for migrants with no recourse to public funds and irregular status
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Adopted project
19 Dec 2023
Improving representation in maternity research
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Adopted project
22 Mar 2022
Reducing levels of anxiety in pregnancy and after birth through web-based training (RELAX)
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Adopted project
24 Jan 2022
The effectiveness and implementation of maternal mental health services (ESMI)
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Adopted project
26 Jan 2022
Postnatal mental health and the prevention of accumulating inequalities
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Adopted project
17 Mar 2021
Investigating implementation of the preterm birth surveillance pathway (IMPART)
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Adopted project
1 Nov 2022
Capacity Research Innovation Building maternity Systems in Sierra Leone (CRIBS)
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Adopted project
12 Jan 2021
Representation in UK pregnancy research: Black, Asian and minority ethnic women’s perceptions related to antenatal scanning
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Adopted project
7 Jan 2021
Optimising outcomes and options for women with a breech pregnancy at term (OptiBreech)
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Adopted project
3 May 2020
Fostering Hope — improving outcomes for parents in the UK social care system
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Adopted project
2 May 2020
Development of a digital preconception care tool for women with severe mental illness (Tommy’s Baby Charity)
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Adopted project
1 May 2020
Oxleas Perinatal Mental Health Services: barriers and facilitators for women from Black and minority ethnic groups
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Adopted project
12 Jun 2020
Optimising psychological treatment for anxiety disorders in pregnancy: a feasibility trial (ADEPT)
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Blog
20 Jan 2023
“I’m making it up as I go along!” Why we need to build capacity for community involvement in research
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Blog
28 Mar 2023
Innovations to reduce maternal mortality and build research capacity in Sierra Leone
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Blog
10 Nov 2023
‘I was a bit sceptical’: The RELAX study’s public involvement – what we’ve done and how it feels to be involved
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Key: Impact case study Core project Adopted project Latest news Blog
Original source: arc-sl.nihr.ac.uk — NIHR ARC South London legacy content archived May 2026.
