Perinatal Mental Health (11301.1)

Please note these are the 2023 details for this unit
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Perinatal Mental Health
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSLEquivalent Full Time Study Load is a measure of the student study load. One EFTSL is worth 24 credit points and is equivalent to a student undertaking full time study for one year. Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Discipline Of Midwifery Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit Band 1 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 1 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit focuses on the psychological health of women during pregnancy and the first year after the birth. The student examines the major risk factors, indicators, treatment approaches and ongoing care for women with perinatal mental health concerns. Learning is directed towards developing knowledge, understanding and skills that enable the student to provide evidence informed care.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Discuss the mental health issues experienced by women during pregnancy and in the first year after birth;
2. Critically evaluate the major approaches related to the assessment, care and treatment of women with perinatal mental health concerns;
3. Examine the effects on the family of alterations in women's psychological health; and
4. Identify support services and/or referral pathways for women who require specialist care.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

11335 Growing a Family

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

8680 Perinatal Mental Health

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Prof Virginia Stulz
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Prof Virginia Stulz
Not available

Required texts

There is no set text for this unit.  Below are some recommended texts, research literature and websites 

Austin, M-P., Highet, N. and the Expert Working Group (2017). Mental Health Care in the Perinatal Period: Australian Clinical Practice Guideline. Melbourne: Centre of Perinatal Excellence. Retrieved from:  https://www.cope.org.au/health-professionals/health-professionals-3/
 
 
COPE, Centre Of Perinatal Excelllence:  https://www.cope.org.au/health-professionals/
Day, C. (2013) Family Partnership Model Connecting and working in partnership with families. Australian Journal of Child and Family Health Nursing, 10(1) 1-10.
 
Everitt, L., Stulz, V., Elmir, R. & Schmied, V. (2022). Educational programs and Teaching Strategies for Health Professionals Rsponding to Women with Complex Perinatal Mental Health and Psychosocial Concerns. A Scoping Review. Nurse Education in Practice. 60, 103319   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103319
 
Morrow, J. (2023). Complications in the postnatal period for the mother. In S. Pairman, S.Tracy, H. Dahlen, & L. Dixon (Eds).  Midwifery: preparation for practice, (5e) (pp. 1099 -1105). Sydney: Elsevier.
 
Schmied, V. & Dixon, L. (2023). Women's psychological health and wellbeing. In S. Pairman, S.Tracy, H. Dahlen, & L. Dixon (Eds).  Midwifery: preparation for practice, (5e) (pp. 843-863). Sydney: Elsevier.

Schmied, V & Thomson, G. (2017) Chapter 1, Introduction in Thomson, G. and Schmied, V.,  Psychosocial Resilience and Risk in the Perinatal Period.

Pairman, S., Pincombe, J., Thorogood, C., & Tracy, S. (2015). Midwifery: Preparation for practice (3rd ed.). Chatswood, N.S.W: Elsevier, Australia Chapter 17.

You are encouraged to access up to date information from journals including, but not limited to the following:
  • Archives of Women's Mental Health
  • British Journal of Midwifery
  • Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology
  • Midwifery
  • The Practicing Midwife
  • Women and Birth
  • UpToDate

Submission of assessment items

Supplementary assessment

Nil

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

This is a 3 credit point unit and will require a workload of approximately 150 hours.

Inclusion and engagement

Please let your Unit convenor know if you need further assistance.

Participation requirements

 Because we understand students may be absent for some sessions the expectation is for students to review online recordings and any content they have missed. If students regularly miss timetabled classes a 500-word synopsis about their learning on the topic/s of any missed sessions may be required to be submitted.

Required IT skills

Access to a computer with a microphone and camera.

In-unit costs

Nil.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None