Researchers are calling for better perinatal care and greater awareness of the mental health issues experienced by parents with an intellectual disability during pregnancy and after childbirth.
People with intellectual disability are nine times more likely to be hospitalised for mental health reasons during pregnancy and up to one year after giving birth, new Australian research led by UNSW Sydney has found.
The research, which published recently in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry , highlights the importance of accessible and inclusive perinatal mental health care.
The first Australian population-level study of its kind also found people with intellectual disability who gave birth were seven times more likely to present to emergency departments for mental health care, with some of the greatest disparities occurring in the first weeks and months after birth.
Lead author Dr Rachael Cvejic, from the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health at UNSW Sydney, said the findings reveal a substantial disparity in perinatal mental health care.
"These findings show that parents with intellectual disability are more likely to use acute mental health care during pregnancy and after birth, yet their needs have received relatively little attention in perinatal care and research," Dr Cvejic said.
"The early postnatal period appears to be a particularly critical time, with sharp increases in acute mental health presentations."
I want health professionals to know that parents with intellectual disability can be great parents who need to be listened to so they can get the correct support that they want for their family.
Need to be seen and heard
Amanda (not her real name) is a parent with intellectual disability and a self-advocate. She said parents with intellectual disability should be recognised for their strengths and supported to make choices about their own care and their families.
"I want health professionals to know that parents with intellectual disability can be great parents who need to be listened to so they can get the correct support that they want for their family."
Dr Cvejic said improving care requires services to work together and ensure health professionals are equipped to provide inclusive care across Australia.
"We need effective coordination between maternity and mental health services, alongside better support for clinicians to provide accessible, inclusive and high-quality care for parents with intellectual disability."
For Amanda, working in partnership with people with intellectual disability is particularly important.
"If we can find a way to get health professionals and people with intellectual disability to work together as a team, I feel like that's going to get much better outcomes."
The National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health is calling for:
- development of accessible and coordinated perinatal mental health care pathways for people with intellectual disability
- better integration of maternity and mental health services
- support and training for health professionals to provide accessible, inclusive and person-centred perinatal mental health care
- recognition of parents with intellectual disability as a priority group in national perinatal mental health and maternity care guidelines.
The study analysed linked health data from more than 30,000 people who gave birth in New South Wales, including more than 2200 people with intellectual disability. Researchers examined mental health-related hospital admissions emergency department presentations, outpatient and out-of-hospital mental health service contacts, as well as psychotropic medication use during pregnancy and up to one year after birth.
- Read the Centre's research report
