A national approach to perinatal mental health in Australia: Exercising caution in the roll-out of a public health initiative

Abstract

• Perinatal depression is an important public health issue, with major consequences for the mother, child and family. • Perinatal depression is often associated with anxiety and other mental health and psychosocial issues. • The National Perinatal Depression Plan (NPDP) proposes routine screening during pregnancy and after birth, follow-up support for women assessed to be at risk of or experiencing depression, and training for health professionals. • Identifying women at risk of or experiencing perinatal depression is difficult, and there is no standard tool used by all hospitals to assess women's emotional health and psychosocial comorbidities. • The NPDP provides an opportunity to develop ..