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INTERPERSONAL Open and honest communication​ Open and honest communication between women and health professionals. Open and honest communication . A lack of open and honest communication. Open and honest communication ​ Open and honest communication between women and health professionals can be a facilitator to perinatal mental health care​. "And I was so grateful, and then I just talked to her, and it was so nice to be able to talk freely with her [about the EPDS ] at the time.​"​ ​ Evidence level: ​ Moderate ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Deciding to consult, Assessment, Decision to disclose, Women’s experience of treatment​. ​ Key literature: ​ Shakespeare J, et al. 2003 A lack of open and honest communication ​ A lack of open and honest communication between women and health professionals can be a barrier to perinatal mental health care​. ​ "Women reported that they were given incorrect or incomplete information because staff felt that they could not communicate with them, leaving them unsure of the appropriate places and people to talk to…​​".​ ​ ​Evidence level: Moderate​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Deciding to consult, Assessment, Decision to disclose, Women’s experience of treatment​. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Watson H, et al. 2019 Recommendations We recommend health professionals participate in continuing professional development activities related to perinatal mental health including participating in high quality training which focuses on communication skills​. ​ To ensure there are opportunities for health professionals and women to form trusting relationships and therefore encourage open and honest communication, we recommend continuity of carer across the care pathway​. Back to Interpersonal

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS Health professionals' knowledge​ Health professionals' knowledge about perinatal mental health symptoms and referral pathways can influence implementation and delivery of care, as well as whether women disclose their symptoms and access care. ​ Knowledge about perinatal mental illness​. Confidence of health professionals ​. Knowledge about referral pathways ​. Knowledge about perinatal mental illness​ Health professionals having good knowledge about perinatal mental health symptoms can be a facilitator to care, whereas a lack of knowledge can be a barrier. "’Oh I was seeing so and so but when they found out I was pregnant they discontinued my medication.’” That…happens frequently. Very frequently…their provider won’t [prescribe] because of their pregnancy."​ ​ Evidence level: ​ Moderate ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Contact with health professionals, Assessment, Access to treatment​. ​ Key literature: ​ Byatt N, et al. 2013 Confidence of health professionals ​ Related to knowledge, a health professional with high levels of confidence in addressing perinatal mental health can be a facilitator. Low confidence can be a barrier.​ ​ "Look, I feel insecure at the moment, as I have not yet had the chance to try [this therapy with a client], and I have to practice…​".​ ​ ​Evidence level: Moderate​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Assessment, Referral, Provision of optimal treatment​. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Bina R, et al. 2018 Knowledge about referral pathways ​ Health professionals having good knowledge about services and referral pathways can be a facilitator to care, but lack of knowledge can be a barrier​​. ​ "The health professionals interviewed in both Trusts were not always aware of the services available in other areas of the health service and recommended the provision and circulation of named links to support more joined up working​​". ​ ​Evidence level: High ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Assessment, Referral, Access to treatment​. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Rowan C, et al. 2010 Recommendations We recommend health professionals participate in continuing professional development activities related to perinatal mental health including participating in high quality training [LINK TO TRAINING RECOMMENDATION]​. ​ Service managers and policy makers could consider health professionals receiving accreditation for participating in training. Back to Health Professionals

SERVICE MANAGERS Characteristics of services across care pathway​ The way a service is set up and run can impact implementation of, and women’s access to perinatal mental health care. ​ Continuity of carer​. Information provision​. Delivered at home​. Culturally sensitive care​. Delivered in medical setting​. Privacy and confidentiality​. Dedicated perinatal mental health champion​. Technology​. Logistical support. Continuity of carer​ Care that provides the same health professional along the care pathway is a facilitator to care. Lack of continuity of care is a barrier.​ "Every time I went to see the midwife, or…, I always had somebody different, and I don’t want to tell 10 people my story​."​ ​ Evidence level: ​High ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Assessment, Decision to disclose, Access to treatment, Provision of optimal treatment, Women’s experience of treatment​. ​ Key literature: ​ Megnin-Viggars O, et al. 2015 Delivered at home​ Care that is delivered at home can be a facilitator to care. ​ "I was more relaxed in my own home."​ ​ Evidence level: ​Moderate ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Decision to consult, Assessment, Decision to disclose, Provision of optimal treatment, Women’s experience of treatment​. ​ Key literature: ​ Myors et al. 2015 Delivered in medical setting​ Some women and health professionals find that care delivered in a medical setting may be a facilitator to care. Other women find it to be a barrier​. ​ "Bangladeshi women living in the UK indicated that they talked freely in the hospital about emotional problems; however, few discussed their difficulties at home apart from practical terms because of censorship by family members"​. ​ "Thirteen of the women found the baby clinic an inappropriate place to complete the EPDS . The lack of time and privacy, the reluctance to make a fuss and the stress of the clinic were cited as reasons. Most women would have preferred to be screened in their own homes. ‘That first Edinburgh test, to have it filled in and then talked about in front of everybody else was just terrible.’ ​" ​ ​Evidence level: Low​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected : Assessment, Provision of optimal treatment, Women’s experience of treatment​. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Dennis & Chung-Lee, L 2006 ​Shakespeare, J et al. 2003 Dedicated perinatal mental health champion​ Care that has a dedicated person or perinatal mental health champion may be a facilitator to care. ​ ​ "I’ve felt the Liaison Nurse . . . her being a point of contact . . . made a big difference to my follow-up and action planning around the clients​."​ ​ Evidence level: ​Low ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Assessment, Referral, Access to treatment, Provision of optimal treatment​. ​ Key literature: ​ Willey S, et al. 2018 Information provision​ Care that provides information about services and perinatal mental health can be a facilitator to care. A lack of information provision can be a barrier​. ​ "Some women believed that their physician did not provide sufficient information about pharmacological treatment​".​ ​ ​Evidence level: Moderate​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Decision to consult, Referral, Access to treatment, Provision of optimal treatment, Women’s experience of treatment​. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Dennis, CL & Chung-Lee, L. 2006 Culturally sensitive care​ Culturally sensitive care is a facilitator to care. Care that is not sensitive to women’s cultural needs is a barrier​. ​ "You need someone who’s on the same wavelength as you, who shares the same cultural experiences as you, which sometimes isn’t available."​ ​ ​Evidence level: High​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Decision to consult, Contact with health professionals, Assessment, Decision to disclose, Referral, Access to treatment, Provision of optimal treatment, Women’s experience of treatment​. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Button S, et al. 2017 Privacy and confidentiality​ Care that is private and maintains women's confidentiality may be a facilitator to care. Lack of privacy may be a barrier​​. ​ "The interruptions took me longer to really get relaxed."​ ​ ​Evidence level: Low​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Decision to disclose, Access to treatment, Provision of optimal treatment. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Jallo N, et al. 2015 Technology​ Technology that is fit for purpose and that works well is a facilitator to care. Technology that does not work is a barrier​. ​ "We would be quite good in fact in asking [women to complete the EPDS ] and it’s probably because of that little reminder on the screen."​ ​ ​Evidence level: High​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Assessment, Referral, Women’s experience of treatment​. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Noonan M, et al. 2018 Logistical support ​ Services that provide logistical support, such as easily accessible locations, childcare, travel costs can be facilitators to care. No logistical support can be a barrier​. ​ "And we were offered a crèche facility; I used to take him there; otherwise it would have been really difficult for me." ​ ​Evidence level: Moderate ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Decision to consult, Access to care, Provision of optimal treatment, Women’s experience of treatment​. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Masood Y, et al. 2015 Recommendations It is important services have easy-to-use technology that is compatible with other technology systems used in other services. We recommend service managers encourage co-production or user experience testing of technology to ensure ease of usability and integration into the workflow. ​ Where compatibility between IT systems is not possible, we recommend the employment of a liaison person who has access to all systems to bridge the gap between different services. ​ Reduction of the changeover of technology when new commissioners join, and encouragement of technology use that is compatible with other systems​. Service managers need to ensure the provision of culturally sensitive care. We recommend service users collaborate with organisations such as The Motherhood Group to ensure care is culturally appropriate The Motherhood Group. ​ Provision of care should ideally be delivered face-to-face, provide logistical support or be carried out in a home setting. If home delivery is not possible, ensure practical support is available such as childcare. We recommend co-production of care. One example of a successful co-produced service is the co-production of perinatal mental health services in Ealing, Hammersmith, Fulham & Hounslow. Back to Service Manager

SERVICE MANAGERS Characteristics of assessment Certain aspects of assessment/screening can impact implementation of assessment, as well as whether women find assessment acceptable.​ Wording of assessment tools. Acceptability of assessment ​ Wording of assessment tools The wording of some screening tools can be a barrier to implementation ​ "I have some moms [who] ask questions about it, like, ‘What does it mean where things are getting on top of me? What do you mean?’ You know, so they, they don’t always understand the questions" (Home visitor, about the EPDS )​​. ​ Evidence level: ​Moderate ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected : Assessment​. ​ Key literature: ​ Doering JJ, et al. 2017 Acceptability of assessment ​ Women and health professionals finding assessment acceptable can be a facilitator to implementation. Poor acceptability of assessment is a barrier.​ ​ "I remember being frustrated and ticking at the end, fine, fine, fine, or whatever it was, good, good, good, no I’m not depressed. I mean they are not going to give a job to my husband".​ ​ "I thought it [screening] was a good idea from the beginning . . . It doesn’t take a lot of time. I think sometimes it can be challenging just to get people to complete it". ​ ​Evidence level: Moderate​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Assessment. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Segre LS, et al. 2014 ​Shakespeare J, et al. 2003 Recommendations Use easy to understand assessment tools. Collaborate with organisations such as The Motherhood Group to ensure cultural appropriateness. ​ Design or update assessment tools that use pictures alongside words for use with women whose English speaking and understanding is limited, e.g. “How are you feeling?” screening tools by Abi Sobowale (Sheffield South West NHS Trust). ​ ​ Provide assessment in a woman-centred way. Explain questions or wording that women are not clear about. Clearly discuss results with women and explain next steps. ​ ​ Service managers should ensure health professionals have enough time to do this by creating an adequate workforce​. Back to Service Manager

Individual Beliefs About Health Services Beliefs About Health Professionals Beliefs About Mental Illness Deciding to Seek Help Fear of Judgement Practical Difficulties Social and Family Life Demographic & Mental Health Factors Back to Conceptual Framework

MATRIx 2 The MATRIx study is led by researchers at City, University of London in collaboration with experts in London. Despite significant improvements in perinatal mental health services, there are still gaps in access for women from ethnic minority groups. MATRIx 2 wants to understand why this is, and develop a culturally sensitive care pathway to overcome barriers. Aims To use an evidence-based co-design approach to co-create a culturally tailored care pathway aimed at overcoming some of the barriers identified by the MATRIx 1 project. Objectives: (1) Identify barriers to accessing/implementing PMH care from women, health professionals and service manager’s perspectives. (2) Develop care that is appropriate to women's needs, including being culturally and religiously sensitive (3) Create outputs for services and women We will form two lived experience groups: one with women and the other with HPs and service managers at Homerton hospital or East London Foundation Trust. We will recruit from a range of sources using multiple recruitment strategies Methods We will carry out qualitative research with women and health professionals to determine which barriers identified by the MATRIx 1 study are most relevant to the service managers and women. The women and health professionals from the lived experience groups will take part. We will analyse data using thematic analysis. ​ With the lived-experience groups we will co-produce an updated perinatal mental health care pathway focusing on more culturally sensitive care, including reducing the barriers identified by the MATRIx project and results from Phase 2. ​ Take Part Would you like to share how your culture, faith or religion play a role during pregnancy and birth? ​ If you are pregnant or have given birth within the last 2 years, experienced mental health difficulties, and received your maternity care from Homerton Hospital, we would love to hear from you. ​ Fill in your contact details below and we will get back to you. First name Last name Email Your message Submit Supporting Organisations Funding This project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration North Thames. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Animation for women Animation for health professionals Animation for service managers Conceptual Framework Resources MATRIx 2 MATRIx Informing Perinatal Mental Health Services​ Perinatal M ental Health A ssessment and TR eatment: An Evidence Synthesis and Conceptual Framework of Barriers and Facilitators to I mplementation This project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research Programme (NIHR 128068) and NIHR ARC North Thames. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care

INDIVIDUAL Deciding to seek help There are two steps to women deciding to seek help. These are recognising that something is wrong and having the knowledge and understanding to know where to go to seek help.​ Supported to recognise something was wrong. Not knowing what services are available. ​ Supported to recognise something was wrong When women are supported to recognise something was wrong, this acts as a facilitator to women perinatal mental health care. ​ ​ "That’s when I thought, you know: “Something is really wrong here, I need to go to the doctors if I’m thinking about killing myself.”​" ​ Evidence level: Moderate​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Deciding to consult. ​ Key literature: ​ Button S, et al. 2017 Not knowing what services are available Women not knowing what services are available and where to go to seek help may be a barrier to perinatal mental health care. ​ ". . .you don’t know where to go, what to do, who to trust…". ​ ​Evidence level: Low​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Deciding to consult. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Megnin-Viggars O, et al. 2015 Recommendations We recommend the development of information aimed at increasing awareness of perinatal mental health illness such as (1) infographics/leaflets disseminated through maternity services, primary care, third sector organisations (e.g. NCT), and antenatal classes (2) short animations & videos disseminated via social media on:​ Symptoms of different perinatal mental illnesses​. The best way to cope with symptoms and when to seek help​. ​ We recommend this information is developed by individual trusts, or third-party organisations (e.g., the NCT) in collaboration with the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Perinatal Mental Health Themes, The Perinatal Mental Health Network Scotland, the National Managed Clinical Network, and the Royal Colleges. We have provided some guidance for women navigating an imperfect system here. Back to Individual

INDIVIDUAL Social and Family Life​ A woman’s social and family life can impact help seeking, access to care, and delivery and implementation of care. ​ Social isolation​ Family and friends​ Additional personal difficulties​ Social isolation​ Social isolation can act as a barrier to perinatal mental health care, whereas social support can be a facilitator​​. ​ "Those without social relationships felt an additional burden when dealing with PPD​​ [postpartum depression]" ​ Evidence level: Moderate​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Decision to consult, Women’s experience of treatment​. ​ Key literature: ​ Hansotte E, et al. 2017 Family and friends​ Supportive family and friends can be a facilitator to perinatal mental health care, whereas having little support from family and friends is a barrier​. ​ "It was sort of my partner saying to me: “Right, if you don’t go, I’m basically making nyou an appointment … You can’t just keep feeling like this".​ ​ ​Evidence level: Moderate​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Decision to consult, Assessment, Decision to disclose, Access to treatment, Women’s experience of treatment​. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Button S, et al. 2017 Additional personal difficulties​ Personal difficulties outside of perinatal mental illness such as unemployment can act as barriers to perinatal mental health care​. ​ "I have this one client. . .(who) has so many issues going on, abusive relationship which she got out of and then custody battle with the children that are going to be a year in June and she is also pregnant. . .She had so much going on that she rejected the (mental health) referral​​". ​ ​Evidence level: Moderate​ ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected: Decision to disclose, Access to treatment​. ​ ​Key literature: ​ Boyd RC, et al. 2011 Recommendations Social isolation can be a barrier to care for some women. We therefore recommend service managers considering offering peer support to women where appropriate. Not being financially stable, and other personal difficulties can be a barrier to care. We therefore recommend the government provide a fair welfare and economic system that ensures that no one is living in poverty or in financial hardship. Back to Individual

Society Stigma Culture Maternal norms​ Back to Conceptual Framework

Service Manager Organisational aspects Characteristics of services across care pathway Characteristics of assessment Characteristics of treatment Back to Conceptual Framework

POLICY MAKERS Immigration Status Whether women were born in the country they are currently living in and how this may impact their perinatal mental health care journey​. Not being born in the country currently living in. NHS Charging regulations​. Not being born in the country currently living in Not being born in the country women are currently living in. "…as Hispanics we do not have insurance and money is what really counts."​ ​ "Because when you’re legal you can take the child to the daycare and look for a job. . . If you don’t work, it’s like you’re dead, being alive. We want our papers so we can progress; not so we can leave or be a load to anyone, but just to work—to buy a home and give our kids a good life. . . I get depressed because I can’t live like normal people because I’m always thinking if I leave or if I stay. . . ​"​ ​ Evidence level: ​High ​ ​Parts of the care pathway affected : Decision to consult, Assessment, Referral, Access to treatment, Provision of optimal treatment​. ​ Key literature: ​ Hansotte E, et al. 2017 ​Schmied V, et al. 2017 NHS Charging regulations​ Despite the NHS being free for UK residents, there are NHS charging regulations in place for those who are not residents of the United Kingdom. ​ NHS charging regulations have a large negative impact on pregnant and postnatal women, in terms of their mental health - increasing stress and anxiety, their vulnerability to domestic violence and maternal deaths that may have been prevented through access to antenatal care. ​ Furthermore, Public Health England has identified NHS charging for maternity care as one of the key issues that exacerbates poorer health outcomes for women and babies of colour.​ Recommendations We recommend support for refugee or immigrant women to be able to access care without being penalised (e.g., through deportation, through charging systems).​ ​ We recommend the suspension of NHS charging regulations until a full independent review of their impact on individual and public health, simplification of charging criteria and exemptions and safeguards to protect vulnerable patients and ensure they are not denied the care they are entitled to, is carried out​. This recommendation is in line with: (a) a joint statement set out by the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Faculty of Public Health in 2018, calling for a suspension of NHS Charging; (b) a statement from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges in 2019 released a statement calling for the suspension of the NHS charging regulations until a full independent review on individual and public health is carried out; (c) a statement from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health calling for an end to NHS charging due to its adverse effects on child health and wider public health; (d) a report from Maternity Action calling for the immediate suspension of charging for NHS maternity care given the deterrent effect on women’s access to maternity care. ​ Back to Policy Makers