How a new parent looks when they walk into your room tells you very little about how they're coping. Screening is how you find out, and any professional working in the perinatal period can do it.

In this episode, Rebecca walks through why a client's appearance is a poor guide to how a new parent is coping, and why the pressure to look put together makes it harder for mothers to say they are struggling. She covers the difference between screening and diagnosis, why handing over a form before any rapport exists tends to under-report symptoms, and how to build trust and normalise the experience before you introduce a screening tool. She also explains what to say when someone screens high, and what to say when they don't, so every client leaves with resources they can return to.

Before your next appointment, think about how you introduce screening, and start with the free PMADs training linked below if you haven't screened before.

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Links & resources mentioned

Free PMADS training (symptoms, signs and screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders): https://learn.perinatalmentalhealthinstitute.com/free-pmads-training

PMHI website: https://perinatalmentalhealthinstitute.com/

Disclaimer: Perinatal in Practice is intended for professional education purposes only. It does not constitute clinical advice or supervision, and does not replace your own professional judgment or your organisation's protocols.

🎵 Theme music: Hopeful Horizons by Justin Lee

And when you’re ready to transform your Perinatal Practice with evidence-based Training & Community:

🟢 Join the PMHI Community Hub: https://perinatalmentalhealthinstitute.com/communityhub