Perinatal and infant mental health

Perinatal and infant mental health

What is perinatal mental health?

Becoming a parent, whether it’s your first child or not, involves a great deal of change in almost every area of your life.

The term ‘perinatal’ relates to the time during pregnancy, immediately after birth, or up to a year after the birth of a baby. Perinatal depression and anxiety are mental health conditions which can start at any point during this time.

Women are more likely to experience anxiety and depression during pregnancy or after childbirth than at any other point in their life - up to one in five women experience mental health symptoms during the perinatal period. There are several reasons for this which can be linked to the physical, mental and social changes which can occur at this time, along with other factors.

Men are affected by perinatal depression and anxiety too. It’s estimated that up to one in 10 new fathers experience symptoms of anxiety or depression in the first year of their baby’s life.

If you have a baby and you’ve been feeling that something isn’t right with your mental health, you’re worried about how you’re bonding with your baby or you’re worried about someone close to you, help is available.

Signs and symptoms

If you’re experiencing a perinatal mental health illness such as depression or anxiety, you might:

• feel sad, irritable, worthless, anxious or generally down for more than two weeks
• feel guilty or worry that you’re not being a good parent or partner
• not want to see friends or family or be in certain places or situations
• avoid interacting with your baby
• have panic attacks or feel restless or generally on edge
• feel tired or have sleeping problems which are not related to your baby’s sleep habits
• not feel like doing things that you would usually enjoy
• have significant changes to your weight or appetite
• have trouble concentrating
• be feeling overwhelmed or fearful.

Some people can experience what’s known as postnatal psychosis. This is a temporary but serious mental health episode. Others might feel out of touch with reality or act out of character.

If you're a parent, experiencing any of these symptoms can have an impact on your health, your relationships and how well you bond with your baby. Perinatal depression and anxiety is common – but with the right treatment you can find a way to feel better and enjoy your time with your baby.

What to do if you're worried about someone

Here are some tips which might help if you think someone you care about is experiencing perinatal depression or anxiety:

• Talk to them. You might ask something like “I’ve noticed you haven’t been yourself lately. Is everything OK?”
• Listen without judgement. The person you’re worried about might not be looking for a solution. They might just need to know that you’re there to listen or available to help and support with the baby.
• Encourage them to get professional help. Perinatal mental health issues are common and there are many treatments available. A good place to start could be for them to have a chat with their GP or explore our treatment options below.

Remember, it’s possible that the person isn’t feeling ready to talk. They might be feeling self-conscious, ashamed or uncomfortable. These are all normal feelings when experiencing a mental health illness.. Let them know you’re there for them and will keep checking in on them.

Your treatment options

If you’re experiencing the symptoms of mental health illness such as depression or anxiety during or after pregnancy, help is available. Here are some important things to know about getting treatment for perinatal depression and anxiety:

• It’s important to look for treatments which are evidence-based. You might like to start with an appointment with your GP or take a look at the treatment programs we offer through St John of God Health Care.
• Through our services, a mental health professional will take the time to understand your situation. We’ll work with you to find the treatment which might work best based on your overall health, your support network and how you’re bonding with your baby.
• Depending on where you live and what works for you, we can offer in-hospital programs, day and community programs and appointments with specialised psychiatrists, nurses and other health care professionals.
• Your treatment might include medication, individual or group sessions or a combination of these.

If you are dealing with perinatal bereavement and loss, we have specialised services to help you through this very difficult time.

These are the programs which we offer through St John of God Health Care.