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HomeArticlesRecognising the signs of perinatal mental health challenges

Recognising the signs of perinatal mental health challenges

Nurse offering help to mum looking down and uneasy

Recognising the signs of perinatal mental health challenges helps you support the people in your care.

The signs of mental health distress are diverse, and people often hesitate to talk about their difficulties.

A majority of callers to the PANDA Helpline haven't shared their concerns with a health care provider. 

There’s a lot that you can can do to make a difference and effectively support families in your care.

“I hid it as I was embarrassed and felt that I should be coping better. I also was not aware of the help that was out there for new mums.”

Alison

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Practice tips

1

Build trust and rapport 

2

Picking up on signs of mental health challenges

3

Respond with empathy

4

Address barriers to disclosure

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Everyone’s experience of pregnancy, birth and parenting is unique and brings different rewards and challenges. Our mental health checklist can help you to see if what you’re experiencing or observing in a loved one could be a reason to seek help.