Unit of Study MIDW2014 Perinatal Mental Health (2024)

Future students:
T: 1800 626 481
E: Email your enquiry here

Current students:
Contact: Faculty of Health

Students studying at an education collaboration:
Please contact your relevant institution

Show me unit information for year

Unit Snapshot

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit
Credit points

12
Faculty & College

Faculty of Health
Placement

No

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

Perinatal mental health conditions
Screening, assessment, and treatment
Supporting women
Psychological health issues when planning a family
Preparing for birth and the first year after birth
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

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method

Seminar 6 hours (1 day)

Tutorial 2 hours (Weekly)

Assessment
Creative work	50%
Workbook	50%
Participation	SR

Teaching method

Seminar 6 hours (1 day)

Tutorial 2 hours (Weekly)

Assessment
Creative work	50%
Workbook	50%
Participation	SR

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.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full-fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees.

Find out more for domestic fees