Midwifery and Perinatal Mental Health

A woman may experience a broad range of mental health conditions during the perinatal period, which have implications for the woman, child and family unit. There have been considerable advances in perinatal mental health research, service provision and education in recent years. As key care providers, midwives are uniquely positioned to engage in perinatal mental health and well-being conversations with women and their families, identify and support women with perinatal mental health needs and raise public awareness to improve access to perinatal mental health care. This chapter explores perinatal mental health, its consequences and the role of the midwife in the prevention of perinatal mental health conditions and the provision of effective perinatal mental health care. In addition, the role of education in supporting midwives to be competent and confident for their role in perinatal mental health and recent developments in service provision is explored.