Maternal Mental Health Alliance · 2023
This joint briefing explores the maternal mental health experiences of young mothers aged 16–25 across the UK, combining focus groups with 20 young mums and a rapid literature review. Young mums face significantly higher rates of perinatal mental illness, including postnatal depression and suicide risk, compounded by stigma, poverty, housing difficulties, and care experience. The report finds that young mums frequently feel judged and dismissed by statutory services, while dedicated voluntary sector services offering holistic, non-judgemental support produce much more positive outcomes. It calls for updated national frameworks, greater investment in universal and specialist perinatal mental health services, and co-production of support pathways with young mothers themselves.