Perinatal mental health, risk, care and treatment (DAA022)

Deepen your understanding of perinatal mental health and its impact to enhance the care you provide

Perinatal mental health, risk, care and treatment

Fee: £599

Duration: 16 hours

Delivery: Online: self-study

Qualification: CPD certificate

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This online course provides an accessible introduction to various types of perinatal mental illness. Through interactive content you will explore the significant effect it can have on women, birthing people, their infants and families and receive a certificate upon completion.

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, and the importance of professionals working in partnership.

Reflecting on your own experience of caring for women and birthing people with mental health problems during pregnancy and the postnatal period, you will acquire practical knowledge and skills which can be integrated into your clinical practice – directly enhancing the care you provide.

“Women and birthing people see a wide range of professionals when planning a pregnancy, pregnant and after birth,” says course lead, Jo Brook. “It is vital that everyone they come into contact with understands the impact of perinatal mental illness, and the associated risks, for women, birthing people and families.”

“This perinatal mental health course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview in a way that allows professionals to participate flexibly to fit in with their busy working lives. We hope that the combination of interactive learning, video and reflection will enable learning to be embedded into clinical practice to improve care for women, birthing people and families.”

Looking for a shorter introduction to perinatal mental health? You may be interested in our A brief introduction to perinatal mental health course.

Find out about government funding for perinatal mental health training for Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies programmes.

Aims and learning objectives

This course will allow you to:

appreciate the importance of understanding each woman and birthing person’s individual context and history, as well as considering the perspectives of the woman, infant and partner
study a range of perinatal mental disorders, including their presentation and the effect they can have on women, birthing people, infants and families
build an awareness of risk in the perinatal period including risk of suicide, risk of domestic abuse and risk to the infant
explore interventions available for women, birthing people and families, including psychological interventions, the use of medication and partnership working
identify the professionals and services involved in supporting women, birthing people, their infants and families across the care pathway

You will learn by:

discovering key concepts through interactive lecture content and video
deepening your understanding via regular opportunities for reflection
testing your knowledge with a multiple-choice quiz, which will unlock access to your certificate upon completion

Who is this course for?

We welcome anyone on this course who has a keen interest in the subject area. In particular, the course is for you if you are:

a mental health practitioner in non-specialist services, such as adult mental health and CAMHS, and are keen to develop your knowledge and skills in relation to the care of women and birthing people in the perinatal period
a non-mental health professional who cares for women and birthing people during the pregnancy and the postnatal period and you are keen to develop your knowledge and skills in perinatal mental health to improve the care you provide

You may also be working as a:

midwife or maternity support worker
obstetrician
doula
health visitor or health visitor assistant
social worker or other practitioner within social care
children’s centre or early years practitioner
nursery nurse
third sector volunteer or practitioner
peer support worker
practitioner at Best Start Family Hubs or Healthy Babies services

Whilst this course, Perinatal mental health, risk, care and treatment (DAA022), and A brief introduction to perinatal mental health (DAA002), are both aimed at the same professional groups, this 16-hour course is more comprehensive, containing greater detail about perinatal mental illnesses, care and treatment. For a shorter overview, we recommend A brief introduction to perinatal mental health (DAA002).

Course details

This interactive course runs continuously, so you can sign up at any time. It offers flexible, self-directed online learning in four units which you can undertake at any time, pace and location that suits you.

You will have access to the course and its materials for one year. Access begins the day after you’ve booked, when you will receive your account details by email.

This online course covers the following areas:

factors from a woman or birthing person’s history and current context which can affect their experience of pregnancy, birth and parenting and her risk of developing perinatal mental health problems
experiences and perspectives of the woman, birthing person, partner and infant during the perinatal period
perinatal mental disorders including perinatal depression, perinatal OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), postpartum psychosis, personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder
risks associated with perinatal mental illness, including risk of suicide, of domestic abuse and to the infant and other children
care and treatment including:
- screening and identifying women and birthing people 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

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

There is a multiple choice question assessment at the end of the course, which will unlock your CPD certificate upon completion.

Training for organisations

Looking to enhance the skills of your team or workforce and create long-lasting impact?

We can offer discounts for group bookings, as well as packages tailored to your specific workforce requirements, including:

an initial consultation to help identify your team’s training needs and knowledge gaps
a flexible, bespoke training programme combining this self-study course with live elements such as reflective sessions or follow-up workshops for deeper learning

For more information on how we can support your organisation, please contact us.

Testimonials

“As part of our perinatal mental health offer in Leicester city, we worked with the Tavistock and trained 20 of our multi agency partners on the ‘Perinatal mental health, risk, care and treatment’ course. The feedback from this has been fantastic and the reflection groups and support received from the team at the Tavistock has enabled the group to grow and develop and embed their learning within their own teams and families. This is supporting Leicester’s multi-agency strategy for perinatal mental health and infant relationships to ensure all families in Leicester city have access to support at the right time.”

Cluster Manager, SEND and Early Help and Family Hubs, Leicester City Council

“Feedback [from our staff] has consistently highlighted its clinical depth, practical relevance and reflective rigour. Practitioners particularly valued the psychologically informed framing of perinatal mental health, the emphasis on relationships and parent–infant interaction, and the protected space for reflective dialogue about complexity, risk and difference. The training has really supported colleagues to consider application to practice and has strengthened confidence in supporting those experiencing PMH difficulties. It has been a vital contributor to embedding psychologically minded, trauma-informed and equity-focused practice across Camden’s Family Hubs.”

Clinical Lead for Best Start for Baby Psychology, Camden

“Engagement in this course has strengthened staff knowledge, confidence and clinical decision-making. The training enhanced practitioners’ ability to identify and respond to perinatal mental health risks, apply evidence-based care and treatment approaches, and work more effectively with families and partner services. Staff report increased confidence in managing complexity, leading to safer, more responsive, and compassionate care for parents and infants.”

Health Visiting Service Lead, Camden Integrated Early Years Service

“This course enabled me to develop my understanding and interest in a highly complex area. The learning material was well presented and easy to navigate at my own speed. A really enjoyable introduction to perinatal mental health.”

Student

“The course was extremely comprehensive and was structured in a way that really allowed for reinforcement of learning through revisiting of concepts and material. The combination of different media was very well-referenced, making it an all-round learning opportunity and a very nourishing experience. Thank you. It was a very valuable opportunity.”

Student

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this course which I found very interesting, formative and a clear and honest insight into perinatal mental health, I found the materials and videos from families and professionals beneficial for developing my professional practice.”

Student

“Great content and very well delivered. This course provides an excellent initial introduction to a wide range of mental health difficulties women can face during the perinatal period. I particularly enjoyed the holistic approach the course takes to exploring women’s mental health and how this impacts her life and those around her.”

Student

“This course was an excellent introduction to perinatal depression. The presentation was outstanding, the structure of the course was designed to keep the student well engaged and motivated. The interviews with the professionals involved with women’s care helped clarify and deepen our understanding. I have really learnt a lot.”

Student

Why study with us?

Tavistock Education and Training offers a wide range of life-changing CPD and postgraduate courses, drawing on over a century of work at the forefront of mental health and wellbeing. As part of North London NHS Foundation Trust, we ground your learning in the latest clinical practice and research, with each course developed by our expert clinician-tutors, in the only NHS Trust registered with the Office for Students. We have made our training accessible and available to everyone to explore in your own time, at your own pace.

Course facilitators

Jo Brook

Perinatal Mental Health Training and Service Development Lead
Lucinda Green

Consultant perinatal psychiatrist

Book your place today

This course runs continuously. You can book a place at any time using our MyTAP booking system. Access begins the day after you’ve booked, when you will receive login details by email.

CPD certificate