Improving Access to Diagnosis and Support
By recognising and addressing barriers to diagnosis and support for perinatal anxiety, healthcare professionals and care providers can play a crucial role in improving outcomes for parents and babies
There are clear opportunities to improve identification and disclosure of perinatal anxiety and ensure that those experiencing difficulties receive the support they need.
Click on the drop-down list to find out more.
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Increase awareness of PNA
- Increase awareness of PNA among healthcare professionals, families, and service providers
- Recognising perinatal anxiety as common, distinct, and treatable
- Do not assume distressing symptoms are a “normal” feature of parenthood
- Recognise anxiety as distinct from postnatal depression.
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Create opportunities for disclosure
- Create safe, non-judgmental spaces that encourage open conversations and support disclosure.
- Normalise emotional difficulties in pregnancy and early parenthood.
- Challenge unrealistic expectations of the “perfect parent.”
- Address stigma and fear of negative consequences related to disclosure by making processes and pathways to support clear.
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Look beyond traditional screening tools
- Use clinical judgement and anxiety-informed assessment to identify need.
- Draw on your experiences with individual service users and consider changes in their behaviour that may suggest they are struggling, even when assessment scores are low.
- Don’t rely on scores on assessment tools – the tools used in practice are often unsuitable for pregnant and postpartum people.
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Strengthen culturally sensitive care
- Be alert to sociocultural barriers, including language needs and differing perinatal beliefs
- Support access to culturally sensitive care.
- Use accessible language
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Improve care pathways and communication
- Establish communication pathways across services to ensure continuity and timely access to support.
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Encourage prevention and early intervention
- Offer or signpost to early, preventative support, including psychoeducation, peer support, and low-intensity interventions where appropriate.
