Study: 1 in 20 UK new mothers may have undiagnosed PTSD

A study by the University of East Anglia has found that thousands of women in the UK may have undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth, with one in 20 new mothers affected. Researchers are calling for improved guidelines to help GPs identify and treat the condition. The report, published in the British Journal of General Practice, highlights that symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety, yet GPs lack practical advice on measuring severity or assessing risk. It recommends a validated assessment tool for routine postnatal checks and better training to spot warning signs. Maternal suicide remains the leading cause of death in women up to a year after pregnancy. An NHS spokesperson said nearly 67,000 women accessed specialist perinatal mental health services last year, urging struggling parents to contact a healthcare professional.