What Purpose Are These Guidelines Designed For? Postnatal Depression can often be managed within the primary care setting. Health Visitors, with appropriate training, can use their routine contacts with new mothers to ensure early detection of Postnatal Depression, and treat its milder forms. These guidelines are designed to assist GPs, Health Visitors and other primary care practitioners, with assessment and management of mothers suffering this type of mental health problem. Postnatal Depression Epidemiology • between 10% and 15% of women have Postnatal depression after childbirth. • depressed mothers may become suicidal, requiring hospitalisation. • suicide linked to this disorder is the second most common from maternal death in the year after birth. • risks of postnatal depression can be significantly reduced by informal social support. How Were Users & Carers Consulted? • engagement of Salford Mental Health Forum (User group) in the development and endorsement of the guidelines (see intro section). What Evidence And/Or National Guidance Was Used In Developing The Guidelines? - H.M. Government. National Service Framework for Mental Health: Modern Standards & Service Models (HMSO, London, 1999). - Confidential inquiry into maternal deaths in the UK. Why mothers die: Report on Confidential enquiries into maternal deaths in the United Kingdom 1994- 1996 (HMSO, London, 1998). - Drugs and Theraputics Bulletin. The Management of Postnatal Depression (May 200). - UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory service, Breast Milk summary, 2001. - Theraputics in Pregnancy and Lactation, April 2000. - Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines 6th Edition, pg 113-114, 2001. - Leicestershire Drug Information service. Antidepressant treatment during breastfeeding. 2000. What Aspects Will Be Monitored & Measured To Assess Impact In Primary Care? • prescribing practices for anti-depressant medication • retrospective analysis of referrals to specialist services • audit of HV intervention i.e. detection of cases and implementation of 6-session therapy. Who Designed These Guidelines? Core members of mental health guidelines development group. (See introduction section). Next Page Flowchart