Family members’ experiences of supporting black and South Asian women with perinatal mental illness: a qualitative study in the UK
Abstract Background Women from Black and South Asian backgrounds with perinatal mental health difficulties face significant barriers to accessing healthcare. Clinical guidelines recommend that services collaborate with families, as they not only influence women’s decisions to seek help and engage wi...
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2025-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02656-6 |
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| author | Sarah Bicknell Nikolina Jovanović Jelena Janković Katy Packer Maev Conneely Kiren Bains Rose McCabe Stefan Priebe Alex Copello |
| author_facet | Sarah Bicknell Nikolina Jovanović Jelena Janković Katy Packer Maev Conneely Kiren Bains Rose McCabe Stefan Priebe Alex Copello |
| author_sort | Sarah Bicknell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Women from Black and South Asian backgrounds with perinatal mental health difficulties face significant barriers to accessing healthcare. Clinical guidelines recommend that services collaborate with families, as they not only influence women’s decisions to seek help and engage with care but also serve as a vital source of support. However, family members’ experiences in providing this support remain poorly understood. This study aims to address this evidence gap. Methods Individual semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with family members of Black and South Asian women who had experienced moderate to severe perinatal mental illness. The interviews explored the family members’ experiences, the personal impact of their relative’s condition, and their perspectives on accessing help and support. Interview transcripts were analysed using framework analysis, by a multidisciplinary team including psychiatrists, psychologists, methodologists, and people with a lived experience of perinatal mental illness. Results Fifteen family members of women with perinatal mental illness were interviewed; twelve husbands and/or partners, and three Mothers and/or Mothers-in-Law. Three themes were identified: (1) Recognising and understanding their relative’s perinatal mental illness was important to make sense of the situation (2) High emotional cost of supporting a relative with perinatal mental illness and (3) Varied experiences and expectations of services, with opportunities for improvement. Family members described how their relative’s illness had a pronounced negative impact on their own physical and mental health and wellbeing, and on relationships within their families. Whilst many family members felt listened to and well supported by services, several barriers that prevented or delayed getting professional support were identified. Families would value improved communication, more information and proactive care from perinatal mental health services. Conclusions This paper offers valuable insights into perinatal mental illness for Black and South Asian women from a family perspective. Despite individual experiences being varied and wide-ranging, the suggestions for service improvement were congruent and often repeated, indicating a widespread need for a greater awareness and wider support for the family members of women in perinatal services, who are often struggling themselves. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-85d6b0d19e2c49f9a4e744e5b001a3a1 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-85d6b0d19e2c49f9a4e744e5b001a3a12025-08-20T02:12:03ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-04-0113111410.1186/s40359-025-02656-6Family members’ experiences of supporting black and South Asian women with perinatal mental illness: a qualitative study in the UKSarah Bicknell0Nikolina Jovanović1Jelena Janković2Katy Packer3Maev Conneely4Kiren Bains5Rose McCabe6Stefan Priebe7Alex Copello8Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustCentre for Psychiatry and Mental Health, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of LondonBirmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustEast London NHS Foundation TrustCentre for Psychiatry and Mental Health, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of LondonBirmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustSchool of Health and Psychological Sciences, City University of LondonSchool of Health and Psychological Sciences, City University of LondonBirmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustAbstract Background Women from Black and South Asian backgrounds with perinatal mental health difficulties face significant barriers to accessing healthcare. Clinical guidelines recommend that services collaborate with families, as they not only influence women’s decisions to seek help and engage with care but also serve as a vital source of support. However, family members’ experiences in providing this support remain poorly understood. This study aims to address this evidence gap. Methods Individual semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with family members of Black and South Asian women who had experienced moderate to severe perinatal mental illness. The interviews explored the family members’ experiences, the personal impact of their relative’s condition, and their perspectives on accessing help and support. Interview transcripts were analysed using framework analysis, by a multidisciplinary team including psychiatrists, psychologists, methodologists, and people with a lived experience of perinatal mental illness. Results Fifteen family members of women with perinatal mental illness were interviewed; twelve husbands and/or partners, and three Mothers and/or Mothers-in-Law. Three themes were identified: (1) Recognising and understanding their relative’s perinatal mental illness was important to make sense of the situation (2) High emotional cost of supporting a relative with perinatal mental illness and (3) Varied experiences and expectations of services, with opportunities for improvement. Family members described how their relative’s illness had a pronounced negative impact on their own physical and mental health and wellbeing, and on relationships within their families. Whilst many family members felt listened to and well supported by services, several barriers that prevented or delayed getting professional support were identified. Families would value improved communication, more information and proactive care from perinatal mental health services. Conclusions This paper offers valuable insights into perinatal mental illness for Black and South Asian women from a family perspective. Despite individual experiences being varied and wide-ranging, the suggestions for service improvement were congruent and often repeated, indicating a widespread need for a greater awareness and wider support for the family members of women in perinatal services, who are often struggling themselves.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02656-6Perinatal mental illnessMental healthFamilyCarersCarer wellbeingEthnic minorities |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Bicknell Nikolina Jovanović Jelena Janković Katy Packer Maev Conneely Kiren Bains Rose McCabe Stefan Priebe Alex Copello Family members’ experiences of supporting black and South Asian women with perinatal mental illness: a qualitative study in the UK BMC Psychology Perinatal mental illness Mental health Family Carers Carer wellbeing Ethnic minorities |
| title | Family members’ experiences of supporting black and South Asian women with perinatal mental illness: a qualitative study in the UK |
| title_full | Family members’ experiences of supporting black and South Asian women with perinatal mental illness: a qualitative study in the UK |
| title_fullStr | Family members’ experiences of supporting black and South Asian women with perinatal mental illness: a qualitative study in the UK |
| title_full_unstemmed | Family members’ experiences of supporting black and South Asian women with perinatal mental illness: a qualitative study in the UK |
| title_short | Family members’ experiences of supporting black and South Asian women with perinatal mental illness: a qualitative study in the UK |
| title_sort | family members experiences of supporting black and south asian women with perinatal mental illness a qualitative study in the uk |
| topic | Perinatal mental illness Mental health Family Carers Carer wellbeing Ethnic minorities |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02656-6 |
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