biostudies-literatureUnknown26(1)Hutton U<h4>Background</h4>The experience of pregnancy and having a baby is a time of significant change and transition. One in five perinatal women experience problems with their emotional wellbeing and mental health in this period; adjustment, anxiety and depressive illnesses being most common. Whilst investment in specialist perinatal mental health pathways continues, there is limited understanding of healthcare professionals' views and experiences of these pathways and of support available for women with mild or moderate mental health problems. This study explored healthcare professionals' views on the barriers and facilitators to identification and management of perinatal anxiety, and on how to optimise care pathways.<h4>Methods</h4>In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with a puBMC health services research272https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12918375biostudies-literatureHealthcare professionals' views on barriers, facilitators and optimisation of care for perinatal anxiety: a qualitative investigation.PMC12918375Moran PMMAP ALLIANCE Study TeamDelicate AEdwards RTSinesi ACheyne HAyers SHutton UShakespeare JMaxwell MHollins KMeades RKhan RfalseHealthcare professionals' views on barriers, facilitators and optimisation of care for perinatal anxiety: a qualitative investigation.<h4>Background</h4>The experience of pregnancy and having a baby is a time of significant change and transition. One in five perinatal women experience problems with their emotional wellbeing and mental health in this period; adjustment, anxiety and depressive illnesses being most common. Whilst investment in specialist perinatal mental health pathways continues, there is limited understanding of healthcare professionals' views and experiences of these pathways and of support available for women with mild or moderate mental health problems. This study explored healthcare professionals' views on the barriers and facilitators to identification and management of perinatal anxiety, and on how to optimise care pathways.<h4>Methods</h4>In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with a pu2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-07-16T07:51:20.393Z2026-07-09T10:45:59.657ZS-EPMC129183754159368910.1186/s12913-025-13930-z