Mythbusting: What we wish every parent knew

To help challenge some of the common myths around perinatal mental health, we continued our chat with Jennifer, Team Leader at the NHS Community Perinatal Mental Health Team in Grampian. 

Challenging these myths matters because when misunderstandings stick around, they can make things feel harder and stop parents from reaching out and getting the help they need at the right time.

Myth 1: “It’s not that common”

It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one struggling, but that’s simply not true. In reality, parental mental health challenges are very common, with around 1 in 5 people experiencing significant difficulties. If you’re finding things hard, you’re far from alone.

Myth 2: “You should feel happy all the time when your baby arrives”

We’re often told that having a baby should be a purely joyful experience. But in reality, emotions can be mixed. You might feel love, happiness, overwhelm, anxiety and exhaustion - all at the same time. That doesn’t mean anything is wrong. It means you’re human.

Myth 3: “The baby is all that matters”

Your baby matters, but so do you. Looking after your own mental health is not selfish; it’s essential. When you’re supported and cared for, you’re better able to care for your baby too. You don’t have to put yourself at the bottom of the list.

Myth 4: “If I ask for help, my baby will be taken away”

This is one of the biggest and most worrying myths. The reality is that professionals want to support families to stay together wherever it’s safe to do so. Reaching out is about getting help, understanding what’s going on,and making sure both you and your baby are supported: not about taking your baby away.

Struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you might need support and you deserve to have it.

About Jennifer and her team’s work

Jennifer is a Team Leader within NHS Grampian’s Community Perinatal Mental Health Team, part of the wider Parent and Infant Mental Health Service. The service brings together three specialist teams supporting families from preconception through pregnancy and up to early childhood.

The Community Perinatal Mental Health Team works with people experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties during pregnancy and up to one year after birth, providing multidisciplinary, specialist care across the Grampian region. The team also supports individuals with complex mental health histories during preconception planning and pregnancy, working closely with maternity services and community partners to ensure safe, joined-up care.

As Team Leader, Jennifer supports the coordination of this multidisciplinary service, helping to ensure timely access to care, effective collaboration across services, and ongoing development of specialist perinatal mental health support in NHS Grampian.