The role of specialist perinatal psychiatrists in modern medicine

Abstract

The perinatal period, from the beginning of pregnancy to one year after birth, is a time of considerable physiological and emotional change, where women face a significant risk of development or relapse of mental health disorders. Mental health disorders are one of the most common conditions faced in the perinatal period, but often go unrecognised. There are several barriers to accessing and delivering care, such as instances of structural bias, cultural diversity, stigma, lack of resources and the additional challenge brought by the coronavirus pandemic. Perinatal psychiatry is a dynamic and evolving field, which spans gender, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic background and many other characteristics, to care for people at a vulnerable time in their lives. This article explores the role of perinatal psychiatrists in today's society, as well as the challenges faced in the field.