Perinatal Mental Health 101: What To Know

Sunday, October 1, 2023, 12:00 AM - Tuesday, December 31, 2024, 11:59 AM, Online

This free course consists of two separate learning pathways.  

Click here to access this activity, Perinatal Mental Health 101:  What to Know.

A full description of both activities is below.

Perinatal Mental Health 101: What to Know - consists of six modules that define perinatal mental health, discuss its impact, and advise on how to screen, assess, and make referrals. It also discusses disparities on perinatal mental health, cultural humility, and addresses perinatal grief and loss. Module 1 will provide the foundation of knowing how to differentiate between a normal range of emotional and behavioral changes that may occur when pregnant or postpartum (including baby blues) and perinatal mental health disorders. In module 2, learners will review the data, statistics, risk factors, and prevalence rates on the impact of perinatal mental health conditions and how the parent/child attachment may be impacted as well. Module 3 reviews the disparities in perinatal mental healthcare and the importance of cultural humility especially within our historical context. Module 4 discusses the impact of stress and trauma during the perinatal period, for example, the implications of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study on perinatal mental health. In module 5, learners will learn about the various screening tools available to utilize with pregnant and postpartum birthing individuals. The pathway wraps up with module 6, which discusses perinatal grief and loss.

Perinatal Mental Health 201:  How to Help (prerequisite: Perinatal Mental Health 101) - consists of four modules that differentiate between various diagnoses within perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including paternal postpartum depression, discuss the correlation and intersection between perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, serious mental illness and substance use disorders, provides instruction on psychosocial assessments and other screening tools and offers advice on therapeutic interventions and whole person care. In module 1, participants learn the difference between baby blues, perinatal depression, paternal perinatal depression, perinatal anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. In module 2, participants are introduced to co-occurring conditions during the perinatal period including serious mental illness and substance abuse, learn about psychiatric medication during pregnancy and lactation and are advised on how to create a care plan. Module 3 offers instruction and best practices around various screening tools used to identify perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, as well as psychosocial assessment. Finally, in module 4 participants learn about evidence-based clinical interventions.

1. Describe the symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
2. Describe how perinatal mental health impacts infants, children, and family.
3. Explain the historical context of racism and reproductive coercion that contributes to mental health disparities and implicit bias within the healthcare system.
4. Explain how trauma contributes to and/or may cue perinatal mental health conditions and how to address risk factors.
5. Identify the three most commonly utilized screening tools for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders in the perinatal period.
6. Name the types of loss that new and expectant parents might experience along the reproductive journey.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Maternal Mental Health NOW. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center designates this Enduring Material for a maximum of 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Non-Physician Attendance
Attendance credit will be provided to other healthcare professionals upon the fulfillment of attendance requirements. Participants should ensure in advance that their credentialing or licensing organization accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ (MD, DO) (6.00 hours), Non-Physician AMA Attendance (6.00 hours)

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Cedars-Sinai adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.