Said the Foyle MLA: “I am delighted that funding has finally been approved for new specialist perinatal mental health services for all trusts within the North.
“Currently only the Belfast Trust provides a limited perinatal mental health provision, for the entirety of the region.
“Evidently this provision is nowhere near sufficient, especially now when this need will become even more profound as we navigate the fallout of the current health crisis.
“Improving and widening access to this crucial support is something I have consistently advocated for, having met and heard testimony from inspirational parents.
“I want to pay tribute to them and to all the activists for their hard-fought efforts to date.
“No parent should suffer in silence during what can prove an isolating time; this provision will be essential to ensure new parents and babies have the best start in life.”