New Perinatal Mental Health Guides for Clinicians
Child and maternal health workers and other frontline health workers will soon have access to new free information resources on the perinatal mental health disorders women can face during pregnancy and after birth.
24 April 2012
Child and maternal health workers and other frontline health workers will soon have access to new free information resources on the perinatal mental health disorders women can face during pregnancy and after birth.
These new resources have been developed in consultation with Australia’s leading perinatal experts. The resources include fact sheets and other quick-reference tools like scoring wheels and questionnaires to help healthcare workers detect and discuss depression, anxiety and other mental health problems with pregnant women and new mothers.
Speaking at the launch of these resources, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, said the new resources would be extremely useful to frontline primary health care professionals.
“These new resources will equip GPs, midwives, obstetricians and child and maternal health workers who work on the frontline with the right knowledge and tools to undertake screening for perinatal depression, and provide a better understanding of safe and effective treatments for mothers and their babies,” Mr Butler said.
“It’s critical that mothers who are showing signs of depression or anxiety are treated quickly and effectively. These resources will result in more women being screened, symptoms being detected earlier and most importantly, more women getting the care and support that they need.”
The resources launched today include:
A summary booklet of the perinatal clinical practice guidelines
Psychosocial assessment and management of perinatal mental health disorders: A guide for primary care health professionals
Fact Sheet - Puerperal (postpartum) psychosis: A guide for primary care health professionals
Fact Sheet - Bipolar disorder during pregnancy and early parenthood: A guide for primary care health professionals
Fact Sheet - Perinatal Depression and Anxiety: Evidence Relating to Infant Cognitive and Emotional Development
The Gillard Government provides $30 million to the states and territories under the National Perinatal Depression Initiative to help roll out routine and universal screening for perinatal depression, for support services and to train health professionals to treat the condition.
As part of the initiative, $5 million has been provided to beyondblue to develop the new resources and clinical practice guidelines, raise community awareness of perinatal depression and to provide advice and support to the Australian and State and Territory Governments on evidence based practice in perinatal depression.
A copy of the new resources can be ordered through the beyondblueinfo line on 1300 224 636 or downloaded at www.beyondblue.org.au
For more information, call the Minister’s office on 02 6277 7280