TY - JOUR T1 - Spotlight on maternal mental health: a prepandemic and postpandemic priority JF - Evidence Based Nursing JO - Evid Based Nurs SP - 29 LP - 30 DO - 10.1136/ebnurs-2021-103378 VL - 24 IS - 2 AU - Liz Bailey AU - Kerry Gaskin Y1 - 2021/04/01 UR - http://ebn.bmj.com/content/24/2/29.abstract N2 - Annually in May, there is a spotlight on maternal mental health (MMH) globally. In the UK, MMH awareness week is coordinated by the perinatal mental health partnership (@PMHPUK) (3 May 2021 to 9 May 2021)1; while in the USA, ‘The Blue Dot Project’2 uses a blue dot as a symbol for unity and awareness for those living with mental health (MH) conditions.2 This annual focus enables professionals, stakeholders and individuals to raise awareness and influence policy on this critical issue. Evidenced based nursing will be supporting MMH Awareness week by publishing a series of blogs representing a range of views during May 2021.Perinatal mental health (PMH) encompasses any MH condition affecting people during pregnancy and in the first year after having a baby.3 This includes conditions ranging from mild depression and anxiety to psychosis; pre-existing MH and MH recurrence during pregnancy.3 PMH conditions can be pregnancy specific such as tokophobia (fear of childbirth), or postpartum traumatic stress disorder; or be more generalised, and range in the degree to which they can impact on quality of life. In general, PMH conditions affect 10–20% of pregnancies, although reported prevalence rates differ by … ER -