Module Code - Title:
NS6051
-
SUPPORTING PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
Perinatal mental illness is a serious public health issue which has the potential to cause adverse outcomes for women's life-long mental health and wellbeing of the children and families (National Perinatal Mental Health Report, 2010). This module is designed to equip all health care professionals particularly Midwives, Public Health Nurses, Mental Health and other health care professionals to work effectively with individuals, couples and families within whatever work environment they are employed. This module will enable health professionals to develop a comprehensive understanding of perinatal mental health problems and their impact on infants and families, during pregnancy and within one year of birth. Health professionals will develop a range of skills and strategies to enable them to work more effectively with families during the transition to parenthood.
Syllabus:
Perinatal Mental health, bio psychosocial influences ,ethnic/cultural context for women and men's transition to parenthood and the impact of perinatal mental illness on maternal and infant wellbeing. Early identification of perinatal mental health problems, screening tools, and strategies to support perinatal mental health, evidence based supportive models of care for mothers and infants, therapeutic interventions for anxiety and mood disorders, impact of substance misuse and alcohol, interdisciplinary and inter-professional working to maintain mental wellbeing, impact of national legislation and guidelines on primary health and family care.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
At the end of this module, students will be able to:
Undertake a comprehensive assessment of perinatal mental health.
Demonstrate an understanding on the use of therapeutic interventions to support perinatal mental health and wellbeing.
Critically evaluate the mechanisms in place, which support perinatal mental health.
Critically discuss the impact of perinatal mental illness on infants, families and communities.
Critically discuss the professional, legal, and ethical issues surrounding perinatal mental health and infant wellbeing.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
At the end of this module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate an appreciation of the need for effective interdisciplinary team working in the management of perinatal mental health problems.
Critically value the concept of a partnership approach to working with families in the perinatal period.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
Participate in the learning environment through engagement in teaching and learning strategies e.g. lectures, discussions, group work, self-directed learning, recommended reading, reflection, use of online learning and enquiry/problem based learning.
The module is based on current best practice guidelines for research in the area of nursing/midwifery incorporating relevant national and international health policy.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Raynor, M., England, C. (2010)
Psychology for Midwives Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium,
, Open University Press
Milgrom, J. and Gemmill, A.W (2015)
Identifying perinatal depression and anxiety:
evidence-based practice in screening, psychosocial assessment and management
, John Wiley & Sons
Rich, A. (2021)
Of woman born: Motherhood as experience and institution
, WW Norton & Company
Zeanah, C.H (2018)
Handbook of infant mental health
, Guildford Publications
Other Relevant Texts:
Anderson, M (2021)
Midwifery Essentials: Perinatal Mental Health
, Elsevier Health Sciences
Hanley, J. and Williams, M. (2019)
Fathers and Perinatal Mental Health: A Guide for
Recognition, Treatment and Management
, Routledge
Haynes, E. (2022)
Motherhood and Mental Illness: A Relational Treatment Approach
, Taylor & Francis
Kahr, B. (2018)
The legacy of Winnicott: Essays on infant and child mental health
, Routledge
Reupert, A., Maybery, D., Nicholson, J., Göpfert, M. and Seeman, M.V (2015)
Parental psychiatric disorder: Distressed parents and their families
, Cambridge
University Press
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
MSPMHETFA - PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
MSNUNGTFA - NURSING
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Module Leader:
annmarie.bright@ul.ie