This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

People with intellectual disability are nine times more likely to be hospitalized for mental health reasons during pregnancy and up to one year after giving birth, new Australian research led by UNSW Sydney has found.

The research, which was published recently in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, highlights the importance of accessible and inclusive perinatal mental health care.

The first Australian population-level study of its kind also found people with intellectual disability who gave birth were seven times more likely to seek mental health care in emergency departments, with some of the greatest disparities occurring in the first weeks and months after birth.

Lead author Dr. Rachael Cvejic, from the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health at UNSW Sydney, said the findings reveal a substantial disparity in perinatal mental health care.

"These findings show that parents with intellectual disability are more likely to use acute mental health care during pregnancy and after birth, yet their needs have received relatively little attention in perinatal care and research," Cvejic said.

"The early postnatal period appears to be a particularly critical time, with sharp increases in acute mental health presentations."

Amanda (not her real name) is a parent with intellectual disability and a self-advocate. She said parents with intellectual disability should be recognized for their strengths and supported to make choices about their own care and their families.

Source link