January 27, 2019

Global resources

Making resources accessible and available for moms and families around the globe

On this page, we feature projects, research and innovations from our global collaborators!

Resources for moms and families

Mindful Mamas App

Mindfulness app developed by Mindful Mamas Club for moms to navigate motherhood and #postpartum mood disorders: https://app.mindfulmamasclub.com/

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder New York State-wide Resource Directory

Postpartum Resource Center of New York - PMAD State-wide Resource Directory updated in March, 2020 - download the PDF here

Local Informed Volunteers/Coordinators in your area - PSI

Postpartum Support International (PSI) has more than 300 Support Coordinators in every US state and around the world. PSI Coordinators are trained volunteers who provide support, encouragement, information, and resources by phone, text, or email. PSI Coordinators will help connect moms, dads, and families to local providers who are trained to treat perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. To find coordinators in your area visit the PSI website.

Running in Triangles - Maternal Mental Health Blog

Running in Triangles is a blog about maternal mental health and self-care for moms helping to spread the message "stay strong and speak up." Last year, they ran a series of guest posts and invited women to share their own postpartum depression story. This year they have a set of 10 questions about postpartum depression that mothers can answer, in order to show the similarities and differences of maternal mental illness. Visit the Running in Triangles blog to read more and see the questions.

Emergency services in Boston, USA

Acute Psychiatry Service at Massachusetts General Hospital - The Acute Psychiatry Service, or APS, is located within the MGH Emergency Department. They are a 24-hour service that provides diagnosis and treatment of acute psychiatric and neuropsychiatric emergencies. (617) 726-2994. https://womensmentalhealth.org/resource/patient-support-services/ 

Support Groups in Portland, Oregon USA

Baby Blues Connection currently offers support groups in the Portland Metro area of Oregon. Our MamaCare groups are designed to help and support pregnant women and postpartum women as we learn to handle stress related to becoming parents as well focusing on depression, anxiety and birth trauma.  All of our trained facilitators utilize the same techniques. http://babybluesconnection.org/finding-help/bbc-groups/

Group therapy and information sessions in British Columbia

British Columbia Children's Hospital hosts various events throughout the year covering topics raging from postpartum depression and anxiety, tips on how to get your baby to fall asleep, learning a baby's body language for fullness and hunger cues, introducing solid food to your baby, amongst others! https://reproductivementalhealth.ca/upcoming-events

Postpartum Support Network - Feel Something Say Something 3.0 Project

Feel Something Say Something 3.0 Project in 4 Steps

  • Education
  • Screening
  • Treatment
  • Road to Recovery (Support Groups)

In partnership with Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation, PSN educated over 3500 women during hospital outreaches and special events in Lagos and Abuja in 2018. PSN screened over 2000 women and 620 of them presented symptoms of postpartum depression. PSN was able to provide  treatment for ten (10) women with severe cases of Postpartum depression out of the six hundred and twenty (620) women whose screening result indicated high risk. Currently, they have fifteen (15) women undergoing therapy with our clinical team and plans are underway to providing additional treatment plans for three hundred (300) Mothers in 2019. Read More

Already Radiant - better coping skills course

Learn better coping skills, end negative thoughts, and find confidence as a new mom. The self-paced, skill-building course Stop The Overwhelm: Taking Care of Yourself as a New Mom is coming soon here.

 

Resources for care providers

Maternal Mental Health guidebook for care providers - PMHP

Written by the Perinatal Mental Health Project (PMHP), South Africa and edited by Prof Dave Woods

The Maternal Mental Health book was written for doctors, nurses and social workers caring for women before and after birth. It provides a clear guide to supporting mental health in the perinatal period. You can read the book online.

Perinatal Digital Screening - COPE

COPE Centre of Perinatal Excellence has created a digital screening resource known as iCOPE Digital Screening. It is an interactive web-based platform that pulls up selected screening questions and questionnaires during a consultation with a provider to identify perinatal mental health issues. 

Community Wellness Outreach

Amela Sandra Dzurlic offers case management & community health outreach by teaching seminars. In terms of case management, she provides assessment in evaluating whether or not a woman qualifies for a variety of government services such as food stamps, rental assistance, child care expense coverage, social security benefits, and other sources of income assistance. She also runs a blog: byAmelaSandra.blogspot.com where she shares safety planning information, self-care articles, and more to come. You can find her on twitter @Amela_Sandra & facebook https://www.facebook.com/ByAmelaSandra/

Check out her blog here: http://byamelasandra.blogspot.com/

Identifying perinatal depression (Hebrew)

The Israel Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, has published a directive regarding EPDS screening in pregnancy and postpartum. The directive is available online here in Hebrew.

 

Multi-media resources

A Moment for Mom

Podcast by Nayris sanchez

A space for mother's, soon to be moms or anyone wanting to learn or be part of a community that will touch of different aspects of motherhood. The ugly, the beautiful and the REAL DEAL. A space for like-minded women can come and let their hair down and speak the reality of motherhood without JUDGEMENT.
Listen to the podcast herehttps://anchor.fm/nayris-sanchez
Interactive web-based platform: Perinatal Digital Screening - COPE

COPE Centre of Perinatal Excellence has created a digital screening resource known as iCOPE Digital Screening. It is an interactive web-based platform that pulls up selected screening questions and questionnaires during a consultation with a provider to identify perinatal mental health issues. 

Documentary: While Time Stands Still

Elena Miliaresis, director / producer of the documentary While Time Stands Still, says that her film captured how postpartum depression led to suicidal ideation followed by an attempted suicide of one of the protagonists.

Against the background of war, While Time Stands Still, which aired on PBS, ABC and NPR, depicts how families, wives, mothers cope with their loved ones at war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

You can find out more and watch the trailer on her website.

Severe Postpartum Psychosis - Best Beginnings

The Postpartum Psychosis video is in Baby Buddy app along with 47 other mental health (Out of the Blue) videos available, to help parents and parents-to-be understand the experience better, knowing it really can happen to anyone, when and where to seek help and that there is light in the end of the tunnel.

Also available on Vimeo here

Animated film: Postpartum psychosis: A mother’s story - Welcome Trust

Having a baby can have a huge and sometimes unexpected effect on a parent’s mental health. Catherine talks about her experiences as a new mother, her diagnosis of postpartum psychosis, and how she was able to work through such a challenging period of her life with the right support.

This video is available on YouTube

Animated film: Perinatal Positivity

An animated film to help new families safeguard their mental health made by ForMed_Films. Watch on Vimeo here

Animated film: Postpartum depression (Hebrew)

This short animated video produced by the Ministry of Health in Israel describes how postpartum depression can feel and how to seek help. Watch on Youtube here.

 

Resources for researchers

The cost of perinatal depression and anxiety in Australia

In Australia, one in five mothers and one in ten fathers/partners experience PNDA. There are psychological, social and physical vulnerabilities that can increase the likelihood of PNDA. Read the full report here

Effects of clinical aromatherapy for anxiety and depression in the high risk postpartum woman

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine if aromatherapy improves anxiety and/or depression in the high risk postpartum woman and to provide a complementary therapy tool for healthcare practitioners.

Results: The pilot study indicates positive findings with minimal risk for the use of aromatherapy as a complementary therapy in both anxiety and depression scales with the postpartum woman.

The study is open access available here.

The tip of the iceberg: postpartum suicidality in Israel

Postpartum suicidality, a result of extreme distress or depression, is a tragedy for the woman, infant, and family. Screening for postpartum depression (PPD) is mandatory in Israel, including a question on suicidal ideation. This study presents and analyzes data regarding rates, trends and characteristics of postpartum women who considered, attempted, or completed suicide, to help direct services aimed at preventing these occurrences. Read the full article online here

Prevention of postpartum suicidality in Israel - commentary

Postpartum suicidality in Israel had not been systematically studied until the recent important investigation by Glasser and colleagues.

The main aim of this commentary is to emphasize that preventive efforts should continue and expand, especially among at-risk groups.

Read the full commentary online here

Pregnancy-Related Anxiety vs Generalized Anxiety

Though pregnancy-related anxiety (PrA) has become more recognized, there still remain questions about the clinical differences in how PrA manifests vs conventional constructs and measures.

This study identified 2 distinct features - specific concerns about the child's health and concerns about birth. Furthermore, they found significant differences in the long term patterns of these 2 factors and also some association between general measure of anxiety and depression.

Children's Institute - Influence of norms and values on Pregnancy Termination services in South Africa

Abstract: As front-line providers, nurses play an integral role in the implementation of South Africa’s Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act and, thus, the promotion of women’s reproductive rights. In light of low levels of support for termination of pregnancy services in South Africa, it is important to understand nurses’ views of such services. The purpose of this study was to examine how nurses’ norms and values shape the provision of abortion services.

Comparison of mental health screening tools for detecting antenatal depression and anxiety disorders

Published by the Perinatal Mental Health Project (PMHP), South Africa

Antenatal depression and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in low and middle-income countries. Screening of pregnant women in primary care antenatal settings provides an opportunity for entry to care, but data are needed on the performance of different screening tools. In this paper they have compared five widely-used questionnaires in a sample of pregnant women in urban South Africa.

 

Share your project, research or maternal mental health innovation by using this form.

Projects can include – but are not limited to – scientific research, best practice peer-to-peer-support or technology innovations that help advance the field of maternal mental health service provision.