BBC News is reporting on an innovative approach to treating new mothers experiencing severe postpartum mood disorders. To my knowledge, this is a one-of-a-kind treatment program not yet implemented in the U.S.

NHS St. John's Hospital in Lothian, Scotland will open a new unit in August 2006, which allows new moms to keep their babies with them while they receive inpatient care and begin their recovery for postpartum depression and other perinatal mood disorders.

Quoted by the BBC, a spokesperson for the hospital says, "This new unit will enable mothers to have their babies with them at a time of personal difficulty and this will hopefully be a comfort for them."

Linda Irvine, programme manager for mental health and well-being for NHS Lothian, told the BBC, "At the moment, it is difficult for new mums who need inpatient treatment for mental health problems to have their babies with them in hospital. This new unit will mean that mums and babies can stay together, which is in everyone's interests. We plan that the unit will be as home-like as possible and a focus group of mothers has played an important role in advising us on what they would like."

In addition to the inpatient unit, the hospital will staff a special perintal team who will cooperate with community mental health workers in Lothian, providing help to mothers who are receiving treatment for postpartum disorders at home.

This news out of Scotland is especially encouraging, considering the recent public outcry in the U.K. about the failings of the health system in responding to women with postpartum depression and other mood disorders. The findings from a new research survey conducted by Mind, the National Association for Mental Health in Britain, has drawn media attention and is fueling a new dialogue on the topic. The 36-page report, "Out of the Blue? Motherhood & Depression" is available as a free, downloadable PDF.

I really like Mind's recommendations for change in British healthcare. These are the same things we need here in the U.S.:

* Better training is needed for health professionals, to enhance their skills and knowledge about perinatal mental health. Such training would best be developed with the input of women who have actually experienced perinatal mood disorders.

* Standard maternity services should be required to address emotional wellbeing, and to provide continuity between ante- and postpartum support.

* All maternity services in hospitals should have a clinician with some designated interest/special training or experience in perinatal mental health.

* Whenever possible, popstpartum women entering inpatient care at a psychiatric facility should keep their babies with them, for the benefit of both mother and infant.