Pregnancy Loss: Why Is Mental Health Support Missing?

What does research reveal about support after miscarriage?

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day on October 15 has brought renewed attention to what happens after medical treatment ends. Southern Cross University psychologist Julia Marsden highlighted research indicating that nearly 60% of Australian women surveyed were not offered information about support services or access to counselling after miscarriage. That figure concerns the surveyed women and should not be treated as a worldwide estimate. [Southern Cross University announcement](https://www.scu.edu.au/news/2026/pregnancy-and-infant-loss-remembrance-day/).

The underlying scoping review, published in the Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, examined eight studies containing data from 1,581 Australian women. Its recurring findings concerned understandable information, emotionally sensitive treatment and effective follow-up. A scoping review maps existing evidence: it does not establish that a particular therapy works or provide a representative national prevalence estimate. The findings nevertheless identify specific aspects of care that services can assess and improve. [Maknia and colleagues' review](https://researchportal.scu.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/Womens-experiences-of-psychological-care-following/991013386548802368).

How can pregnancy loss affect mental health?

Early miscarriage occurs in approximately 10% of known pregnancies, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, but its frequency does not make an individual loss less significant. About half of early miscarriages involve abnormal embryo development, often associated with an abnormal chromosome number. Everyday activities such as exercise or sex do not cause miscarriage. Explaining these facts sensitively can help address misplaced self-blame alongside physical recovery. [ACOG guidance on early pregnancy loss](https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/early-pregnancy-loss).

Grief is not automatically a psychiatric disorder, and emotional recovery does not follow a single timetable. However, persistent nightmares, overwhelming worry, hopelessness or difficulty managing everyday activities deserve assessment. ACOG advises seeking help when concerning symptoms continue beyond two weeks; severe distress warrants earlier attention. A later pregnancy may also bring anxiety without erasing grief about the earlier loss. [ACOG guidance on emotional support](https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/the-latest/finding-emotional-support-after-pregnancy-loss).

What psychological care should be available after pregnancy loss?

A follow-up appointment provides an opportunity to discuss recovery and identify additional needs; ACOG recommends a visit a few weeks after miscarriage. Support can then be matched to the person rather than assuming everyone needs the same intervention. [ACOG recovery guidance](https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/early-pregnancy-loss). For women who develop PTSD after miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death, the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy or eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, known as EMDR. These are structured treatments delivered by trained practitioners following assessment. [NICE perinatal mental health recommendations](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg192/chapter/Recommendations).

Marsden is also leading a proposed research programme to develop psychological support delivered digitally with input from parents and clinicians, particularly for pregnancy after loss. The intention is to provide support between appointments. This remains a development proposal: the university announcement does not report trial results demonstrating effectiveness. Any eventual programme would need evaluation before its benefits could be established. [Southern Cross University research announcement](https://www.scu.edu.au/news/2026/pregnancy-and-infant-loss-remembrance-day/).