Perinatal mental health in China: views of health system professionals in Shanghai

Abstract

Abstract Background Mental health has recently been receiving a growing amount of attention in mainland China, with mental disorders increasingly being recognized as a major public health concern. However, the treatment gap for mental health care is markedly high in China. Previous research and clinical practice have focused on high-risk physical disorders but overlooked psychosocial factors, especially during the perinatal period. Aims To explore Chinese professionals’ perception and attributions of perinatal mental health in China. Method The study was conducted in Shanghai, China, in 2018, drawing on interviews with 15 key informants including health professionals, government officials, and policymakers recruited through snowball sampling. Content analysis of the semi-structured interviews was performed. Results The study yielded insights into the perceptions of perinatal mental health among health professionals in Shanghai. Three themes emerged from the informants’ reports: (1) mental health influenced by tradition—describing traditions affecting the perception of mental health at both the societal and individual level; (2) societal changed contributing perinatal mental health problems—referring to a rapidly changing cultural and economic backdrop as a source of stress leading to mental health problems; and (3) existing and required resources—demonstrating a lack of professional training, staff shortages, and inadequacy of resources to provide the required mental health care. Conclusion Our results provide new insights into key health professionals’ perceptions of mental health problems in Shanghai. Hesitation to seek care owing to a lack of knowledge, and resource shortages in health care systems are obstacles to improve mental health among women in urban China.