The world's first ever analysis of data from a full scale clinical trial in adults shows that training Health Visitors to assess and psychologically support mothers after childbirth can prevent the development of depression over the following year.

Roughly 13 percent of women suffer from postnatal depression in the year after they give birth, but new information shows women can be effectively identified and treated.

A heart-to-heart chat with a peer has proven an effective way to prevent postnatal depression in high risk women, cutting the risk of depression by 50%, according to a University of Toronto nursing study published in BMJ Online today.

MORE than 5000 protest letters were delivered yesterday to a health board planning to remove health visitors from GPs' surgeries. Doctors Euan Paterson and Anne Mullin handed in 5536 letters from patients to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

By TOM RAYNER Half of new mothers see a health visitor only once or twice in the first two months after giving birth, a poll revealed today. A survey of 6,000 mothers found that 46% of women fell into that category, despite 53% of those polled saying they did not live near to close family.