INTRODUCTION
“Women with disabilities are increasingly choosing to become mothers” (McKay-Moffat 2007).
Welcome to the perinatal mental health (PNMH) support module. This self-paced module has been designed specifically for you, the disability support worker (DSW), who may find yourself supporting mothers, and their partners, in the perinatal period. The focus of this module is PNMH disorders.
The perinatal period includes the pregnancy and the year following the birth.
PNMH disorders refers to any mental health disorder which is present during the pregnancy or the year following the birth, regardless of whether the person experienced that mental health disorder previously or if it presents during the perinatal period for the first time (PANDA 2022).
The perinatal period is a time when mothers and their partners need empathetic, compassionate and intuitive support. You can be a source of great reassurance and comfort to them during this challenging, yet rewarding time.
As a DSW you need to allow plenty of time to listen to any questions and concerns mothers may have, know where to find appropriate information and assist mothers and their partners in accessing resources and services. You should be able to translate complicated ‘medical speak’ and communicate it to the mother in a more ‘user-friendly’ way.
As you work your way through this module keep your eyes peeled for the many support tips which are designed to give you practical suggestions so you can better support mothers and their partners.
Be alert but not alarmed by the health alerts in this module. They are not meant to frighten you, but to make you aware of some things that can and do happen.
Be sure to click on each link, resource and video to fully complete the module. At the end of the module you will be directed back to any areas missed.
Within the module you will find learning check-ins which are designed to consolidate your learning and identify gaps in your knowledge.
We hope you find the reflection scenarios an interesting way to incorporate the information within this module into ‘real life’ situations.
The glossary, which includes commonly used terms, is a useful resource which will assist you to decode any jargon you may come across as you care for mothers in the perinatal period. You might choose to print this out so you have it at hand.
Don’t forget to complete the post-module questionnaire – this helps us to evaluate and improve our learning tools in order to better support DSWs, like you, in the future.
This module is simply a guide and learning tool for you; this might be the first time you have supported a new mother as she adjusts to her new life, you may have helped a friend or family member in this situation, or you may have had a baby yourself. Regardless, we hope you find the information in this module helpful in supporting mothers, advocating for them as they cope with this time of huge change and feel things they may never have felt before.
