Informing Perinatal Mental Health Services
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Health professionals' knowledge
Health professionals' knowledge about perinatal mental health symptoms and referral pathways can influence implementation and delivery of care, as well as whether women disclose their symptoms and access care.
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Knowledge about perinatal mental illness.
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Confidence of health professionals .
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Knowledge about referral pathways .
Knowledge about perinatal mental illness
Health professionals having good knowledge about perinatal mental health symptoms can be a facilitator to care, whereas a lack of knowledge can be a barrier.
"’Oh I was seeing so and so but when they found out I was pregnant they discontinued my medication.’” That…happens frequently. Very frequently…their provider won’t [prescribe] because of their pregnancy."
Evidence level: Moderate
Parts of the care pathway affected: Contact with health professionals, Assessment, Access to treatment.
Key literature:
Confidence of health professionals
Related to knowledge, a health professional with high levels of confidence in addressing perinatal mental health can be a facilitator. Low confidence can be a barrier.
"Look, I feel insecure at the moment, as I have not yet had the chance to try [this therapy with a client], and I have to practice…".
Evidence level: Moderate
Parts of the care pathway affected: Assessment, Referral, Provision of optimal treatment.
Key literature:
Knowledge about referral pathways
Health professionals having good knowledge about services and referral pathways can be a facilitator to care, but lack of knowledge can be a barrier.
"The health professionals interviewed in both Trusts were not always aware of the services available in other areas of the health service and recommended the provision and circulation of named links to support more joined up working".
Evidence level: High
Parts of the care pathway affected: Assessment, Referral, Access to treatment.
Key literature:
Recommendations
We recommend health professionals participate in continuing professional development activities related to perinatal mental health including participating in high quality training [LINK TO TRAINING RECOMMENDATION].
Service managers and policy makers could consider health professionals receiving accreditation for participating in training.