Labour calls for year long postnatal mental health care
Labour calls for year long postnatal mental health care - The Labour Party
- Seanad motion calls time on postnatal neglect – Tomorrow at 2pm
Labour’s Senator Nessa Cosgrove will tomorrow bring a motion to Seanad Éireann calling on the Government to urgently expand postnatal and maternal mental health supports, warning that mothers are being failed by a system that withdraws care far too soon. The motion calls on the Minister for Health to commit to year long postnatal support, increased funding, improved access to mental health services and the roll out of community based supports so that every mother can recover, cope and thrive after childbirth.
Senator Cosgrove said:
“The period after childbirth is one of the most intense times of physical, emotional and psychological change a person can experience, yet the State continues to treat postnatal care as a short window rather than a critical year in a mother’s life.
“Right now, the maternity and infant care scheme provides for just two postnatal GP visits at two weeks and six weeks, along with a single public health nurse visit shortly after a mother returns home. That is not continuity of care. It is a cliff edge. For many women, the real challenges begin after those early weeks, when exhaustion, anxiety and depression can take hold.
“We know that mothers need access to timely, affordable mental health supports including counselling, therapy and peer support to address postnatal depression, burnout and anxiety. Instead, too many women face long waiting lists, high out of pocket costs or no services at all, particularly outside major cities. Campaigns like the Year of Care have laid bare the gaps in State provision and the consequences of a model that withdraws support just as mothers begin to need it most.
“When we fail mothers in the postnatal period, we fail babies, partners and families too. Maternal mental health shapes early bonding, family stability and long term wellbeing. Strong postnatal support improves outcomes for children and reduces pressure on health and social services down the line. This is not a niche issue. It is a public health priority that demands political leadership and investment.
“The Seanad has an opportunity tomorrow to send a clear message that six weeks of care is not enough. Labour’s motion recognises that recovery from childbirth and adjustment to parenthood does not follow a six week timetable. Mothers deserve structured check ups and mental health supports for up to one year after birth, delivered in a way that is accessible, affordable and rooted in local communities.
“We are calling on the Minister for Health to commit to a real expansion of postnatal services, including increased funding for maternal mental health, guaranteed access to counselling and therapy, routine postnatal check ups across the first year and the establishment of community based support networks throughout the State. This is about ensuring that no mother is left to struggle alone once the initial medical appointments end.”
Link the the full Seanad motion here: https://labour.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Seanad-motion.pdf