Organised alongside the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA), the event highlighted the critical need for timely specialist care for women struggling with their mental health during and after pregnancy.
Kyrke-Smith, who lost one of her best friends Sophie Middlemiss to suicide postpartum, has been campaigning to improve perinatal mental health provision.
The MP said, “Mental health care during pregnancy and after birth isn’t optional - it’s essential. Every woman deserves timely, compassionate support, wherever she lives and whatever her circumstances. We must work together to make that a reality. I’m so pleased that over 40 Parliamentarians attended today’s event, demonstrating the breadth of support there is for improvements in perinatal mental health provision.
"I will continue to champion improvements in perinatal mental health to ensure families in Aylesbury constituency and across the UK have timely access to the care they need, when and where they need it.”
The perinatal period - from pregnancy to a years after birth - is a vital window of opportunity to support women, babies, and families. With 1 in 4 women experiencing perinatal mental health problems, and suicide consistently the leading cause of maternal death between six weeks and a year after pregnancy, urgent action is needed.
Attendees heard moving accounts from women with lived experience and learned about Laura Kyrke-Smith’s recommendations for action that can improve the care available to families. MPs were also briefed on the MMHA’s work to address inequities in access to care, and its quality.
Karen Middleton, Head of Campaigns and Policy at the MMHA, said: “Too many women and families in Aylesbury constituency and across the UK still face barriers to life-saving perinatal mental health support. We’re grateful to Laura for advocating for the high-quality, specialist care every new and expectant mum deserves. By addressing stubborn gaps and inequities, we can transform outcomes for all mothers, babies, and their families.”
One of the lived experience champions who spoke to Parliamentarians at the event was Amy Scullard, who helps run the Aylesbury PANDAS peer support group. After the event, Amy said, “I had been invited by Laura to talk to MPs about my lived experience of PND and the support we offer in her constituency.
"Naturally I donned my PANDAS t-shirt and spoke to as many people as I could about my experience and those who come to our group. I met some wonderful people, got to know a bit more about the MMHA and hear how Laura is pushing for maternal mental health to be part of the Government’s 10-year plan [for the NHS]. All in all a wonderful day, an amazing experience.”
Over 40 Parliamentarians from a range of parties pledged to champion improvements in perinatal mental health to ensure families across the UK have timely access to the care they need, when and where they need it.