Staff training in woman-centred communication skills and psychosocial assessment
Ensuring that all primary and maternity care services provide effective psychosocial care to all women in their communities
Universal psychosocial assessment in the perinatal period
Assessment of psychosocial risk factors
Assessment for symptoms of depression and anxiety
Use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
Assessment of mother–infant interaction
Assessment of the risk of harm to the infants
Comprehensive mental health assessment
Assessment of suicide risk
Acting on psychosocial assessments (providing treatment or referral)
Supporting emotional health and wellbeing in the perinatal period (e.g., providing advice and counselling)
Psychological therapies
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Interpersonal psychotherapy
Psychodynamic therapy
Pharmacological therapies
Consideration of benefits and risks of treatment to mother and fetus or infant
Treatment of depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Short-term use of benzodiazepines for anxiety disorders
Avoidance of sodium valproate and clozapine during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Cautious use of lithium during breastfeeding
Mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder
Antipsychotic treatment for puerperal psychosis