This 20 hour course will give you an accessible introduction to various types of perinatal mental illness and the significant effect these can have on women, their infants, partners and families. You will learn about a range of factors that can contribute to mental health problems in pregnancy and after birth, as well as the risks that can be associated with perinatal mental illness. The course also provides information about care and treatment for women and families and the importance of professionals working in partnership. The women, partner and infant’s perspectives are considered throughout the course.

You will be invited to reflect on your experience of caring for women with mental health problems during pregnancy and the postnatal period, from whichever setting you work within, and integrating the learning into your clinical practice will hopefully enhance the care you provide for women and families.

The course includes interactive learning, video material, peer discussion and reflection. You can complete the course at your own pace. In week 4 there is a live webinar with a clinical expert and this will include an invaluable opportunity for you to ask questions about any aspect of the course.

• Factors from the woman’s history and current context which can affect her experience of pregnancy, birth and parenting and her risk of developing perinatal mental health problems
• The woman, partner and infant’s experience during the perinatal period
• Perinatal mental disorders including perinatal depression, perinatal OCD, postpartum psychosis and post traumatic stress disorder (including birth trauma)
• Risk including suicide, domestic abuse and risk to the infant and other children
• Care and treatment including:
  • Screening and identifying women who have, or who are at risk of developing, perinatal mental illness
  • Psychological interventions for the mother and for the mother-infant relationship
  • An introduction to the use of medication in pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Multi-agency partnership working.

We welcome anyone to this course who has a keen interest in the subject area.

In particular, the course is for you if you are a:

1. Mental health practitioner in non-specialist services, such as Adult and CAMHS, and are keen to develop your knowledge and skills in relation to the care of women in the perinatal period.
2. Non-mental health professional who cares for women during the pregnancy and the postnatal period and you are keen to develop your knowledge and skills in perinatal mental health in order to improve the care you provide. You may be working as a:

• Midwife
• Obstetrician
• Health Visitor or Health Visitor Assistant
• Social carer or Social worker
• Children’s centre and Early Years Practitioner
• Doula
• Maternity support worker.

There are no specific requirements for the course, and there’s no assumption you’ll have prior knowledge in mental health.

There’s a multiple choice question assessment at the end of the course.

This course runs once per month, and you can pick your preferred start date at the beginning of the registration process. You’ll have access to the course and its materials for a total of eight weeks after you’ve registered and paid.

The course delivers 20 hours of learning, the majority of which you can undertake at a time and pace that suits you. In the third or fourth week of your course, you will also be invited to join a live group webinar with one of our clinical experts, conducted via Zoom.

Live webinar dates and times can be found below: