Maintaining mental health is important to the well-being of pregnant and postpartum individuals, as well as to their children and families. The perinatal period (conception to one year post-birth) represents a critical time for providing intervention. Unfortunately, existing gaps in mental health services have been exacerbated during the pandemic and there is an urgent need to ensure that families have access to timely, effective, and accessible mental health care.
This webinar highlights the importance of mental health care before, during, and after pregnancy, as well as the impacts of poor mental health on pregnant people, the fetus, and infants. It also explores strategies to help support communities and practitioners in identifying pregnant or postpartum patients who may be experiencing mental health issues, assess the severity of their symptoms and determine appropriate care or treatment, including follow-up.