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
 UC - Canberra, Bruce
EFTSL 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


Prerequisites

11335 Growing a Family.

Corequisites

11334 The Work of Birth.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

8680 Perinatal Mental Health.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2023 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
2022 UC - Canberra, Bruce Winter Term 30 May 2022 On-Campus Dr Sally De-Vitry Smith
2023 UC - Canberra, Bruce Winter Term 30 May 2023 On-Campus Dr Sally De-Vitry Smith
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Raynor, M., & England, C. (2010). Psychology for midwives: Pregnancy, Childbirth and Puerperium. New York: Open University Press.

Additional suggested reading/resources:

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/
 
Carlin, E., Atkinson, D., & Marley, J. V. (2019). 'Having a Quiet Word': Yarning with Aboriginal Women in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia about Mental Health and Mental Health Screening during the Perinatal Period. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(21), 4253. 
 
de Bruijn, L., Stramrood, C. A., Lambregtse-van den Berg, M. P., & Rius Ottenheim, N. (2020). Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder following childbirth. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 41(1), 5-14
 
Griffiths, J., Lever Taylor, B., Morant, N., Bick, D., Howard, L. M., Seneviratne, G., & Johnson, S. (2019). A qualitative comparison of experiences of specialist mother and baby units versus general psychiatric wards. BMC PSYCHIATRY, 19(1), 
 
Gutteridge, K. (2011). Maternal mental health and psychological problems. In Macdonald, S., & Magill-Cuerden, J. (Eds). Mayes Midwifery, (14th edn). Edinburgh: Elsevier.
 
Ho, F., & Mussap, A. J. (2017). Transgender Mental Health in Australia: Satisfaction with Practitioners and the Standards of Care: Transgender mental health. Australian Psychologist, 52(3), 209-218.  
 
Holland, C. (2018). The midwife's role in suicide prevention. British Journal of Midwifery, 26(1), 44-50. 
 
Jordan, S. (2010). Pharmacology for midwives: The evidence base for safe practice. Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke.
 
Lemon, E., Vanderkruik, R., Arch, J. J., & Dimidjian, S. A. (2020). Treating Anxiety During Pregnancy: Patient Concerns About Pharmaceutical Treatment. Maternal and child health journal, 24(4), 439-446. 
 
Molenaar, N. M., Kamperman, A. M., Boyce, P., & Bergink, V. (2018). Guidelines on treatment of perinatal depression with antidepressants: An international review.  Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 52(4), 320-327. 
 
Morrow, J. (2019). Complications in the postnatal period for the mother. In Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen H., & Dixon, L. (Eds).  Midwifery: preparation for practice, (4e) (pp. 993-1015). Sydney: Elsevier.
 
Ogbo, F. A., Kingsley Ezeh, O., Dhami, M. V., Naz, S., Khanlari, S., McKenzie, A., . . . Eastwood, J. (2019). Perinatal Distress and Depression in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Australian Women: The Role of Psychosocial and Obstetric Factors. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(16), 2945. 
 
Raynor, M., Mason, A., Williams, M., Wallroth, P., Skene, G & Whibley, S. (2020). Perinatal Mental Health. In Marshall, J., & Raynor, M. (Eds),  Myles: A textbook for midwives. (17 th ed.). Edinburgh, Elsevier. 
 
Schmied, V. & Dixon, L. (2019). Women's psychological Health and wellbeing. In Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen, H,. & Dixon, L. (Eds).  Midwifery: preparation for practice, (4e) (pp. 759-781). Sydney: Elsevier.

Spry, E., Wilson, C., Middleton, M., Moreno-Betancur, M., Doyle, L., Howard, L., Hannan, A., Wlodek, M., Cheong, J., Hines, L., Coffey, C., Brown, S., Olsson, C., & Patton, G. (2020). Parental mental health before and during pregnancy and offspring birth outcomes: A 20-year preconception cohort of maternal and paternal exposure. EClinicalMedicine, 27, 100564–100564.

Sved Williams, A. E. (2017). Perinatal and infant mental health in Australia: moving forward towards REAL prevention and early intervention – can we do it? Australasian Psychiatry, 25(3), 274-276. 

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

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

Attendance at classes is compulsory in this course, as per the Bachelor of Midwifery curriculum approved by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (2018). 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

This unit involves online meetings in real time using the Virtual Room in your UCLearn teaching site if you are unable to attend in person. The Virtual Room allows you to communicate in real time with your lecturer and other students. To participate verbally, rather than just typing, you will need a microphone. For best audio quality we recommend a microphone and speaker headset. For more information and to test your computer, go to the Virtual Room in your UCLearn site and 'Join Course Room'. This will trigger a tutorial to help familiarise you with the functionality of the virtual room

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Next step

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