Browsing by Subject "perinatal mental health"

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    Advancing Perinatal Mental Health Awareness in the NICU: Promoting Caregiver Well-Being and Infant Outcomes
    (2025-05-04) McGee, Alexis; Van Antwerp, Leah; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; McQuay, Mackenzie
    Perinatal mental health plays a critical role in the overall well-being of parents and, consequently, in the care and development of their newborns, especially of those with infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges that parents face during a high-risk pregnancy, preterm birth, or NICU stay can have profound effects not only on their own mental health but also their ability to provide optimal care for their infant. The emotional struggles can add a challenge to the already very complicated and demanding process of learning to care for a medically fragile newborn. Occupational therapy, utilizing a holistic approach, offers a valuable framework for supporting the infant and the entire family unit. By assessing the emotional well-being of parents, occupational therapists can help mitigate the impact of perinatal mental health issues, fostering a more positive environment for both parents and their newborns. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to identify ways in which Community Hospital North (CHN) can better support the emotional well-being of the families experiencing a NICU stay. In collaboration with the site, the student developed resource materials for parents, as well as provided a presentation to staff to better equip NICU providers with the necessary tools and resources to appropriately address perinatal mental health challenges in their NICU families. Staff was provided a pre- and post- survey questionnaire to assess confidence and knowledge of perinatal mental health, and the means to best address these challenges. Results of the surveys indicate the staff increased their knowledge within identifying local mental health resources and showed improved confidence in addressing mental health symptoms with NICU families.
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    Improving Perinatal Health Care: Increasing the Utilization of Mental Health Screening Tools Among Pelvic Health Therapists
    (2023-05-01) Caes, Sydney; Van Antwerp, Leah; Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Human Sciences; Hess, Pamela; Hernandez, Kaylene
    Perinatal mental health disorders affect approximately 1 in 5 birthing parents and can have serious negative implications if left undiagnosed and untreated. For example, birthing parents with such diagnoses are less likely to engage with their infant which can result in impaired bonding and caregiving. This capstone project sought to improve knowledge and confidence regarding perinatal mental health screening and referral among pelvic health therapists at an outpatient rehabilitation clinic. The project included an evidence-based presentation highlighting the importance of perinatal mental health screening, as well as newly created standardized screening and referral protocols that were presented to the therapists and implemented at the clinic. These protocols were created to ensure that patients receive appropriate screening and referrals for perinatal mental health disorders. Quasi-experimental research was conducted to gauge the therapist’s knowledge and confidence regarding perinatal mental health and determine the effectiveness of the presentation in educating staff. The results indicated statistically significant improvements in both knowledge and confidence among the therapists. This project had a meaningful impact on both the occupational and physical therapy professions, as it emphasized the importance of therapists’ involvement in perinatal mental health screening. This project adds to the growing body of research to support occupational therapy’s role in perinatal mental health.