Perinatal mental illness, encompassing conditions like postpartum depression and psychosis, affects over a quarter (27%) of new and expectant mothers in England. Analysis by The Guardian of NHS data reveals that black mothers are more than twice as likely to be hospitalized for these conditions compared to their white counterparts.
One contributing factor is the overall higher incidence of mental illness among black individuals. In England, black people are over four times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act and more than ten times more likely to be placed under a community treatment order.
Dr. Lade Smith, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, attributes this to factors such as “poverty, housing insecurity and discrimination” which elevate the risk of all mental disorders. She explains, “If you’re black, you’re at a higher risk of being socially disadvantaged and this means you’re also more likely to have a mental illness.”
