Year: 2014
Type: book-chapter
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. \n \nPerinatal 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.
Authors: Rhonda Marriott, S. Ferguson-Hill
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3092573315