Advancing Perinatal Mental Health Awareness in the NICU: Promoting Caregiver Well-Being and Infant Outcomes

Abstract

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.