Peri is the latin word for “around” and natal means “birth”. So the term perinatal mental health is concerned with a parent’s mental wellbeing from conception to a year post-birth. Previously referred to as ante or postnatal depression, the symptoms of perinatal mental illness can be much wider ranging than just depression and can include anxiety, panic, obsessions, compulsions, psychosis and post traumatic stress.

Becoming a parent can be an extremely stressful time and Lifeboat aims to support those organisations who are currently working with parents and children who may experience perinatal mental illness