This course has been designed to inform and encourage midwives and related health professionals to reflect on and critically explore the issues which may impact on the mental well being of childbearing women. It will include exploration of the factors which may positively or adversely affect women’s mental health during pregnancy, labour and/or the postnatal period. This critical understanding will assist the analysis and development of strategies to enhance personal practice and local services to support women and their families.
Current drivers include the recommendations of the National Service Framework for Children’s and Maternity Services (DoH 2004) and mental health (DoH 2004), findings from the CEMACH Report (Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child health 2004), principles from The Ten Shared Capabilities (DoH 2004) and Government initiatives such as Sure Start (DoH 1998), Choosing Health (DoH 2004) and wider public health initiatives.
The NHS Plan (2000), Standard 11 of the Children’s NSF (2004) and the policy document ‘Women’s Mental Health’ (DoH 2004) commits the Government to implementing effective and appropriate perinatal care for women, including mental health care. The effectiveness of this care depends on the current or past mental health of the woman, the existence of exacerbating or ameliorating factors and the ability of health professionals to provide effective and appropriate care. This ultimately depends on the education and training of health professionals.
The course will focus on issues impacting on perinatal mental health, with the woman at the heart of the service.
This is a part-time course and is available via supported distance learning or as a taught course. The taught course is offered at both our Brentford (Paragon) or Slough Campuses.