A report has stated that if a specially trained health visitor provides psychological support to women after child birth then there are possibilities that women would be saved from post-natal depression.

The observation was made after 2,000 women were monitored after child birth by experts from the universities of Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield.

The health visitors providing this support were trained in assessing mental health problems and giving psychological support.

Experts let 1,500 women get the support provided by health visitors. The remaining 767 were given normal care from a health visitor.

When the study began there were no signs of depression in all of them after six weeks following childbirth.

It was however noticed that the chances of developing depression after child birth was reduced by 30 per cent among women who were seen by a health visitor and were provided additional mental health training.

Lead author Professor Terry Brugha, of the University of Leicester Clinical Division of Psychiatry, said, "Until now, it was thought that depression could only be treated when it is picked up by a GP or health visitor. But this study shows that women are less likely to become depressed in the year after childbirth if they are attended by an NHS health visitor."