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Unit of Study MIDW2014 - Perinatal Mental Health (2024)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Unit type

    UG Coursework Unit

  • Credit points

    12

  • Faculty/College

    Faculty of Health

  • Placement

    No

  • Enrolment information

    N/A

Unit description

Develops knowledge and understanding of the common mental health issues experienced by women during the childbearing continuum and the first year after birth. Explores the psychological health of women across the continuum of pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. Current screening and assessment tools, treatments, support services, risk factors and common psychological health issues are discussed. Consideration of woman, her baby and family’s cultural needs will be examined. Finally, the potential impact on the midwife of working with women and their families experiencing perinatal mental health issues will be explored.

Unit content

  1. Perinatal mental health conditions
  2. Screening, assessment, and treatment
  3. Supporting women
  4. Psychological health issues when planning a family
  5. Preparing for birth and the first year after birth
  6. The midwife and mental health

 

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Term5
Term5
Gold Coast
Term5
Term5

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

demonstrate knowledge of the common mental health issues experienced by women during the childbearing continuum and the first year after birth

examine the midwife's role in screening, care, and support when working with women and their families experiencing mental health issues during the perinatal period

discuss the cultural, contextual, personal, biological and interpersonal factors that contribute to mental illness

identify the impact working with women, and their families, experiencing perinatal mental health issues can have on the midwife

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • Pairman, S., Tracy, S. K., Dahlen, H., & Dixon, L., 2023, Midwifery: preparation for practice, 5th edn, Elsevier, Chatswood, NSW. ISBN: 9780729597869.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Nursing and Midwifery Board Australia. (2018). Midwifery Standards for practice.

     

  • 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. doi:10.3390/ijerph16214253

     

  • Lemmens, G., Van Parys, A.-S., Vogels, C., Roelens, K., & Van Damme, R. (2019). Early detection and treatment of perinatal mental health disorders: A perinatal mental health care protocol. Journal of psychosomatic research, 121, 151-151. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.03.154

     

  • Centre of Perinatal Excellence https://www.cope.org.au/about/

     

  • Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia https://www.panda.org.au/

     

  • Promoting Perinatal Mental Health Wellness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities https://www.wimmerapcp.org.au/wp-gidbox/uploads/2014/04/working_together_full_book.pdf#page=257

     

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.