PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH POLICY #49
The MHA Position Statement #49 Perinatal Mental
Health policy was created because perinatal depression
is a commonly occurring health problem that
affects mothers, fathers, and children if untreated.
Underlying mental health problems may be exacerbated
by the physical and emotional stress of pregnancy
and parenting. Sleep deprivation due to the
physical demands required for caring for a young
infant or due to the discomforts of pregnancy may
contribute to the onset of mental health concerns.27
Prompt recognition and treatment through a
coordinated program of screening, referral, and
follow up are essential for improving the mental and
physical health of families.29
Although Position Statement #49 does not
describe specific timing for administration of screening
tools or advocate for the use of a specific tool, evidence
obtained from a review of published literature recommends
that screening be undertaken prenatally, and
postpartum in the following settings: obstetric care
clinics; pediatric care clinics; primary care settings; and
Women Infant and Children nutrition clinics.29
Screening is essential for the detection of individuals
who may be experiencing mental health difficulties.
There are a variety of validated sensitive and specific
screening tools that can be administered during
pregnancy and the postpartum period. The 2 most
frequently used tools in the US are the Patient Health
Questionnaire 9 and the Edinburgh Postnatal
Depression Screen. These tools are equally effective
and both have been validated for use in pregnant and
postpartum populations and are available in a
multitude of languages.29
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