Perinatal mental health screening for women of refugee background: Addressing a major gap in pregnancy care.

Background: Perinatal mental health disorders affect up to 20% of all women. Women of refugee background are likely to be at increased risk, yet little research has explored this. This study aimed to assess if women of refugee background are more likely to screen risk positive for depression and anxiety than non-refugee women, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS); and if screening in pregnancy using the EPDS enables better detection of depression and anxiety symptoms in women of refugee background than routine care.

Introducing and integrating perinatal mental health screening: Development of an equity-informed evidence-based approach.

Background: Pregnancy is a time of increased risk for developing or re-experiencing mental illness. Perinatal mental health screening for all women is recommended in many national guidelines, but a number of systems-level and individual barriers often hinder policy implementation. These barriers result in missed opportunities for detection and early intervention and are likely to be experienced disproportionately by women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including women of refugee backgrounds.

Patterns of psychiatric admission in Australian pregnant and childbearing women.

Purpose: The early postnatal period is a time of increased risk for psychiatric admission. However, there is scope to further examine if this increase in risk extends to the entire perinatal period (pregnancy and first postnatal year), and how it compares to admission outside of the perinatal period.

Methods: Data were linked across birth and hospital admission registers from July 2000 to December 2009.

Policy Impacts of the Australian National Perinatal Depression Initiative: Psychiatric Admission in the First Postnatal Year.

This paper helps to quantify the impact of the Australian National Perinatal Depression Initiative (NPDI) on postnatal inpatient psychiatric hospitalisation. Based on individual hospital admissions data from New South Wales and Western Australia, we found that the NPDI reduced inpatient psychiatric hospital admission by up to 50% [0.9% point reduction (95% CI 0.

Mental health consultations in the perinatal period: a cost-analysis of Medicare services provided to women during a period of intense mental health reform in Australia.

Objective To quantify total provider fees, benefits paid by the Australian Government and out-of-pocket patients' costs of mental health Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) consultations provided to women in the perinatal period (pregnancy to end of the first postnatal year). Method A retrospective study of MBS utilisation and costs (in 2011-12 A$) for women giving birth between 2006 and 2010 by state, provider-type, and geographic remoteness was undertaken. Results The cost of mental health consultations during the perinatal period was A$17.

The National Perinatal Depression Initiative: An evaluation of access to general practitioners, psychologists and psychiatrists through the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the National Perinatal Depression Initiative on access to Medicare services for women at risk of perinatal mental illness.

Method: Retrospective cohort study using difference-in-difference analytical methods to quantify the impact of the National Perinatal Depression Initiative policies on Medicare Benefits Schedule mental health usage by Australian women giving birth between 2006 and 2010. A random sample of women of reproductive age enrolled in Medicare who had not given birth where used as controls.

Qualitative insights into women's personal experiences of perinatal depression and anxiety.

Background And Aim: Symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety are usually described and understood from a nosological perspective. This research sought to gain insight into women's lived experience of postnatal depression and anxiety, the factors that contribute to these symptoms and the context in which they develop.

Method: Face to face and telephone interviews were conducted with 28 women from metropolitan and rural areas across Australia, who had experienced postnatal depression and/or anxiety within the last five years.

Detection and management of mood disorders in the maternity setting: the Australian Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Background: Mood disorders arising in the perinatal period (conception to the first postnatal year), occur in up to 13% of women. The adverse impact of mood disorders on mother, infant and family with potential long-term consequences are well documented. There is a need for clear, evidence-based, guidelines for midwives and other maternity care providers.

Depression in the perinatal period: awareness, attitudes and knowledge in the Australian population.

Objective: To establish a benchmark of awareness, knowledge and attitudes in Australia in relation to depression and its treatment in the perinatal period, and to identify demographic factors associated with perinatal mental health literacy.

Method: A cross-sectional telephone survey (n = 1201) of a randomly selected sample of adults in each State and Territory of Australia, conducted in late 2009.

Results: Depression was the most frequently cited general health problem for women after childbirth (43.

Perspectives of young people on depression: awareness, experiences, attitudes and treatment preferences.

Aim: Ascertaining current knowledge and attitudes towards depression among young people is vital for developing campaigns promoting community awareness and early intervention.

Methods: Cross-sectional computer-assisted telephone interviews of persons aged 18-90 years were conducted by beyondblue in Australia in 2002 and 2004/05. Items assessed consideration of depression as a major general health or mental health problem, knowledge about prevalence of depression, usual age of onset for depression or anxiety and treatment preferences.

The experience of living with a person with an eating disorder: the impact on the carers.

Using a combination of focus groups and individual in-depth interviews, the experience of living with a person with an eating disorder was explored in 24 carers. Attention was given to the progression of the disorder to understand its impact upon the family throughout the stages of the illness. Caring for a person with an eating disorder impacted upon the primary carer and the family throughout the course of the illness.

Positive relationships between public awareness activity and recognition of the impacts of depression in Australia.

Objective: This report records the level of exposure to depression-related information across the Australian community and explores associations with recognition of depression and relevant sociodemographic factors.

Method: A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted with a representative community sample. Participants consisted of 3200 respondents (400 respondents across each Australian State/Territory).

Identifying depression in a family member: the carers' experience.

Background: Current research activity has not focused adequately upon the experience of caring for a person with depression. This study aimed to explore the carer's experience of living with a person with clinical depression. Specific focus was given to the detection and recognition of the disorder.

How much more can we lose?": carer and family perspectives on living with a person with depression.

Objective: To explore the experiences of carers and families of people with depression.

Design And Setting: Structured focus groups conducted in six Australian capital cities between February 2002 and July 2002. Thematic analyses were conducted using the QSR NUD*IST software package for qualitative data.

Experience with treatment services for people with bipolar disorder.

Objective: To describe the experiences of people with bipolar disorder with primary care and specialist mental health services.

Design And Setting: Focus groups and indepth interviews were conducted in seven Australian capital cities between July 2002 and April 2003. Thematic analyses were conducted using the QSR NUD*IST software package for qualitative data.

A comparative evaluation of community treatments for post-partum depression: implications for treatment and management practices.

Objective: To compare existing community treatments for post-partum depression (PPD), treatment efficacy was evaluated for 146 women seeking treatment for PPD in the local community.

Methods: Self-report questionnaires were designed to assess clinical depression and anxiety (psychological and physiological), risk factors, treatment satisfaction and the impact of social supports.

Results: Comparison of treated subjects with those on a wait-list demonstrated that depression and the psychological component of anxiety decreased significantly after treatment.

Exploring the perspectives of people whose lives have been affected by depression.

Objectives: To describe the experiences of people whose lives have been affected by depression.

Design, Setting And Participants: Thematic review of data collected from 21 community meetings (1529 people, providing 911 evaluation forms) and nine focus groups (69 individuals) held nationally, and written feedback and website-based interactions with beyondblue: the national depression initiative between April and December 2001.

Main Outcome Measures: Barriers to social participation experienced by people whose lives have been affected by depression, and their interactions with the healthcare system.

Monitoring awareness of and attitudes to depression in Australia.

Objectives: To determine the degree of recognition and understanding of depression and its treatments in Australia in 2001, and detail factors and personal experiences that influence awareness of and attitudes to depression.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional survey of a representative community sample (900 randomly selected respondents), via telephone interview, conducted 5-7 October 2001.

Main Outcome Measures: Reports of community awareness, knowledge and attitudes to depression and its treatments in Australia.