Women’s experiences of having a postnatal mental health assessment 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How do women experience the routine 6-8 week postnatal mental health assessment by the health visitor?
IRAS ID
182996
Contact name
Pat Colliety
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 17 days
Research summary
One in seven women suffer from maternal mental illness during the period between conception and the first year of their child’s life (Institute of Health Visiting, 2015) . Perinatal mental illness can have detrimental effects on not only mothers but their children, partners, wider family, communities and ultimately the whole society. Children whose mothers have had a postnatal mental illness are at higher risk of poor emotional, social and educational outcomes. Perinatal psychiatric disorders are additionally associated with increased risk of suicide; the leading cause of maternal mortality in the last two decades. Early diagnosis and treatment of postnatal mental illness positively effect on the trajectory of the illness. Approximately half of cases are undetected and many detected fail to receive evidence based forms of treatment (MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH ALLIANCE, 2014). \nThis research aims to explore women’s experiences of having a routine maternal mental health assessment by a health visitor at 6-8 weeks postnatally with the aim of improving this. Health Visitors within the organisation use the ‘Whooley questions’, a tool to identify postnatal depression as part of the mental health assessment. Women’s experiences of having an assessment with the use of these questions have not previously been researched. \nWomen over the age of 16, who speak English and have had a routine mental health assessment with a health visitor, 6-8 weeks postnatally, within the child health clinic setting, will be eligible to participate in the study. \n A qualitative, phenomenological approach will be used to explore women’s lived experience of the assessment through a face to face, semi-structured interview lasting no longer than 45 minutes in a clinic setting or patient’s home depending on preference. The University of Surrey are the sponsor for the research and the research will be carried out within CSH Surrey; the researcher’s employer.\n
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1915
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion