GOLD Learning Speakers

Perinatal common mental disorders (depression and anxiety) are highly prevalent, particularly in socio-economically adverse settings. These disorders are associated with substantial morbidity for mothers and their offspring, exerting impacts at multiple levels, and across generations. In high income settings, maternal suicide is rated among the leading causes of maternal mortality while contributing smaller, but notable proportions of maternal deaths in Low and Middle Income Countries. There is a growing body of evidence that integrating mental health care in to maternal and child care platforms, may be an effective and efficient way of addressing the unmet need faced by so many women. The presentation will cover common perinatal mental disorders: epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentations, and adverse impacts for mothers and infants. A practical approach to detection and management will be offered, aimed maternal care providers who are not mental health specialists. The presentation will be particularly relevant for providers working in resource constrained settings, but will also have relevance for all perinatal care providers.