The Duchess of Cambridge hosts round-table talks on maternal mental health

Yesterday, the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge held a round-table discussion on maternal mental health.

The unannounced private meeting was held through The Royal Foundation at her Kensington Palace home.

The Kensington Palace Twitter account revealed the talks with a picture of the Duchess captioning it: “The Duchess is keen to develop an understanding of the issues surrounding maternal mental health, and to learn what support is available.”

The discussion included experts from Maternal Mental Health Alliance, Anna Freud Centre, Family Action, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Kings College and Best Beginnings.

The Duchess, who is due in April with her third child, has described being a mother to Prince George and Princess Charlotte as a “rewarding and wonderful experience”, but a “huge challenge”. She has also spoken of having a “lack of confidence” in regards to her parenting.

Around 20% of women suffer from mental health problems during pregnancy or in the first year after the birth. If postpartum depression is left untreated, it can have lifelong consequences.

During the round-table, Kate spoke of how it is essential to have open conversations about mental health, and the impact maternal mental health can have on a family.

Kensington Palace also announced that on 14 November, the Duchess will visit the Hornsey Road Children’s Centre to learn about the Family Action’s perinatal mental health programme and met those parents who have used the service.

The Duchess of Cambridge was supposed to visit the centre, which The Queen is Patron of, in September but had to postpone due to her morning sickness.

The Hornsey Road Children’s Centre helps 45,000 families through over 130 community-based services. They are “one of the biggest national providers of early intervention services for families and children.”