​Tragic death of Chloe Sutherland highlights need for greater postnatal and perinatal care for mothers

More should be done to help women with postnatal depression following the conviction of Erin Sutherland, leading care charities have warned.

Sutherland was convicted of the culpable homicide of her daughter Chloe at the High Court in Edinburgh this week after being refused treatment for the condition.

The 36 year old had been treated for postnatal depression before but could not get support because Chloe was more than six months old.

CrossReach Postnatal Depression Services – part of the Church of Scotland’s care arm – and the NSPCC said perinatal mental health services in Scotland needed greater funding to enable more services to be delivered and more trained medical professionals recruited.

Viv Dickenson, CrossReach’s director of children and family services, said: “First of all I want to extend our deep sympathy for Erin, her family and all caught up in these tragic events. We were in touch with Erin for a very short time after she was referred to our service.

Postnatal depression responds well to timeous and appropriate treatment - Viv Dickenson

"We recently supported the Maternal Mental Health Alliance report highlighting the lack perinatal mental health services in Scotland.

“It called for further training for midwives and health visitors as well as widening service provision so that more families could access the most appropriate support according to their individual needs.

“Postnatal depression responds well to timeous and appropriate treatment.

“CrossReach is calling on central and local government to follow the report’s recommendations and extend training and service provision so that many more parents can get the help they need at this crucial time for families.”

The court heard that Sutherland had previously received hospital treatment following the birth of an older daughter when she was diagnosed with postnatal depression in 2006.

Her symptoms worsened when the child was eight months old and led to her becoming an in-patient.

However, when her family doctor contacted a perinatal mental health team for her to see a community psychiatric nurse following a consultation in December last year support could not be offered.

An NSPCC Scotland spokeswoman said: "This heart-wrenching case highlights the urgent need to address the considerable gaps in support for families struggling with perinatal mental health issues.

"Support must be available when and for as long as families need it.

"And the widespread issues we identified in our recent report on perinatal mental health provision in Scotland, including education and training of professionals and access to specialist services, must be prioritised.

"We must do all we can to prevent a similar tragedy happening in future."