Perinatal Mental Health

Course aim

The aim of this course is to develop a foundational understanding of mental health and mental illness in order to respond appropriately to the needs of women and their families during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.

Course content

Understanding mental health and specific mental illness (mood and anxiety) including their management, ie. psychotherapy, psycho-pharmacology, attachment and lifespan developmental theories; introduction to psychological disorders in pregnancy and childbirth; psychological trauma and childbirth; postnatal distress; postnatal depression; postnatal psychosis; grief and loss; psychosocial aspects of perinatal heath; impact of abuse on the childbirth experience; drug addiction and childbirth; domestic violence; psychosocial aspects of teenage pregnancy; pre-existing mental illness and childbirth.

Textbook(s)

Austin M-P, et al 2011, Clinical practice guidelines for depression and related discorders, Beyond Blue; the national depression initiative , Melbourne

Steen M & Thomas M 2016, Mental Health Across the Lifespan: A Handbook, Routledge, Oxon

Prerequisite(s)

Nil

Corequisite(s)

Nil

Teaching method

Component	Duration
INTERNAL, CITY EAST
Tutorial	6 hours x 8 weeks
Workshop	8 hours x 4 days
EXTERNAL, CITY EAST, DISTANCE EDUCATION
External (Online)	8 weeks x -
Workshop	8 hours x 4 days

Note: These components may or may not be scheduled in every study period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Assessment

Case study, Examination, Group presentation, Participation

Fees

EFTSL*: 0.250
Commonwealth Supported program (Band 1)
To determine the fee for this course as part of a Commonwealth Supported program, go to:
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Fee-paying program for domestic and international students
International students and students undertaking this course as part of a postgraduate fee paying program must refer to the relevant program home page to determine the cost for undertaking this course.

Non-award enrolment
Non-award tuition fees are set by the university. To determine the cost of this course, go to:
How to determine the relevant non award tuition fee. (Opens new window)

Not all courses are available on all of the above bases, and students must check to ensure that they are permitted to enrol in a particular course.

* Equivalent Full Time Study Load. Please note: all EFTSL values are published and calculated at ten decimal places. Values are displayed to three decimal places for ease of interpretation.