Some assume that after having a baby the pregnant person and their partner feel joy and excitement. However, many pregnant people and their partners find that their expectations of what happens after birth do not align with their experiences. A reason for this is that they have a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD). PMADs are common, impacting as many as 1 in 5 birthing individuals (Van Niel & Payne, 2020). PMADs increased in the United States from 18% to 40% over a span of 9 years (McKee et al., 2020).
Additionally, suicide is the leading cause of death in the perinatal period. It surpasses medical conditions such as postpartum hemorrhaging and hypertension (Chin et al., 2022). It is essential that all healthcare providers, regardless of where they work, know how to screen for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and suicide as PMADs are a risk factor for perinatal suicide.
The goal of this course is to provide addictions, behavioral health counseling, marriage and family therapy, nursing, physical therapists, psychology, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, and social work professionals in health and human services settings with the skills needed to understand and treat PMADs.