The fifth series of Poldark has been widely praised for its exploration of mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and bereavement. In the second episode of the final season, we find Doctor Dwight Enys taking an interest in mental health following the death of his daughter, Sarah.

“He goes into the royal college of surgeons as someone who is interested in mental health,” actor Luke Norris, who plays Enys, said during the premiere of the fifth series. “And obviously at the time, and even now, it is quite a taboo subject. It is a difficult subject.”

According to the NHS, postnatal depression is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby. It’s an incredibly common issue too, affecting more than 1 in every 10 women within a year of giving birth, as well as fathers and partners.

Since the episode aired, many Twitter users have applauded the show’s exploration of mental health issues, which highlights the power of the media in helping to change outdated perceptions of those living with mental illness. And thanks to Horsfield’s frank conversation about her lived experiences, we can encourage other women to gain access to the support they need, from pregnancy, to birth, and beyond.

Images: BBC, Getty

Poldark screenwriter on how her experience with postnatal depression helped inspire the show