Perinatal and infant mental health and wellbeing

Marriott, R.ORCID: 0000-0002-6037-2565 and Ferguson-Hill, S. (2014) Perinatal and infant mental health and wellbeing. In: Dudgeon, P., Milroy, H. and Walker, R., (eds.) Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice. Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet/ Telethon Institute for Child Health Research/Kulunga Research Network in collaboration with the University of Western Australia, pp. 337-354.

Abstract

This chapter considers factors influencing parental and infant mental health and social and emotional wellbeing. Perinatal depression and anxiety is a significant health problem affecting not only mothers but also their infants, other children, partners, extended families and communities generally. The significance of infant attachment in the perinatal period (from conception to the end of the first year after the baby is born) and the importance of culture and ways of working with families in this sensitive life stage are described.

Perinatal mental health is about the emotional wellbeing of pregnant women and their infants, partners and families during this time. This chapter discusses the risk and protective factors that impact on parental mental health and social and emotional wellbeing. It refers to processes of assessment and the issues related to culturally appropriate prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of perinatal depression and anxiety; and its potential impact on the infant, other children, parents, family and community. The key policies that impact on perinatal mental health and relevant preventative programs are briefly described.

Item Type:	Book Chapter
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Psychology and Exercise Science
Publisher:	Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet/ Telethon Institute for Child Health Research/Kulunga Research Network in collaboration with the University of Western Australia
Copyright:	© 2014 Commonwealth of Australia
Other Information:	2nd edition
United Nations SDGs:	Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/58070

Item Control Page

Downloads