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Postnatal depression and perinatal mental health

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

About maternal mental health 

What are perinatal mental health problems? 

A ‘perinatal’ mental health problem is one that you experience any time from becoming pregnant up to a year after you give birth. 

Having a baby is a big life event. It’s natural to experience a range of emotions during pregnancy and after giving birth. But if any difficult feelings start to have a big effect on your day-to-day life, you might be experiencing a perinatal mental health problem. 

This may be a new mental health problem, or an episode of a problem you’ve experienced in the past. 

What does ‘perinatal’ mean? 

‘Perinatal’ means the period of time covering your pregnancy and up to roughly a year after giving birth. It’s made up of two parts: 

  • peri meaning ‘around’ 
  • natal meaning ‘birth’ 

You might have also heard terms used to describe the time specifically before or after giving birth, such as: 

  • postnatal or postpartum meaning ‘after birth’ 
  • antenatal or prenatal meaning ‘before birth’ 

There’s no right or wrong word to describe the period of time around pregnancy and after birth, and you might hear your doctor or midwife use any of these. 

How pregnancy impacted my mental health 

“My pregnancy turned into the hardest time of my life. I was in a constant state of agitation… My whole body was consumed.” 

Common perinatal mental health problems 

These information pages cover some of the most common perinatal mental health problems: 

  • Perinatal depression 
  • Perinatal anxiety 
  • Perinatal OCD 
  • Postpartum psychosis 
  • Postpartum PTSD 

Some women also experience eating problems during and after pregnancy. Pregnancy charity Tommy’s (based in the UK) has specific information about eating disorders in pregnancy. It may also help to read our pages on eating problems. 

“It took a lot of courage to tell someone that I was experiencing suicidal thoughts and had sought help from my family doctor.” 

Managing existing mental health problems during pregnancy 

If you have a mental health problem and you get pregnant, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. You can also speak to your doctor about your mental health if you are planning to become pregnant in the future. 

Your doctor can help you make plans to manage your mental health during pregnancy. They can also help you think about any extra support you might need. 

You might find it helpful to read our information on how to talk to your doctor before having this conversation. 

“I had been diagnosed with PTSD prior to my pregnancy. When I became pregnant with my daughter I had ‘crisis’ episodes and was referred to a consultant who helped me to identify my triggers.” 

If I became unwell last time I was pregnant, will it happen again? 

If you have experienced a mental health problem during or after a previous pregnancy, there is more risk of you becoming unwell again. But this doesn’t mean you definitely will. 

If you became unwell during a previous pregnancy, you might worry about having another baby. But you may feel more confident about how to look after yourself. And you may know how to spot any signs that you are becoming unwell. 

If you do become pregnant again, it’s important to talk to your family doctor, obstetrician, or existing mental health clinician about how you can look after your mental health. You should also think about what kind of support you might need. 

See the women’s health section of the Family Health Department for more information about services available.  

“I found it hard because, whilst people talk about postnatal depression, there is very little discussion of mental ill health in pregnancy and it is supposed to be such a joyful time.” 

Managing mental health problems with a new baby 

If you recently had a baby and you’re struggling with your mental health, it may seem difficult to talk openly about how you’re feeling. You might feel: 

  • pressure to be happy and excited 
  • like you have to be on top of everything 
  • worried you’re a bad parent if you’re struggling with your mental health 
  • worried that someone will take your baby away from you if you are open about how you’re feeling. 

But if you are finding things difficult, it is important to know that having these feelings is not your fault. You can ask for help or support if you need it. 

If you need support, see the women’s health section of the Family Health Department for more information about services available.  

Will I hurt my baby? 

If you experience thoughts about harming your baby, this can be very frightening. But it’s important to remember that having these thoughts doesn’t actually mean you are going to harm your child. 

You might be afraid to tell anyone about these feelings. But the more you can bring your feelings out into the open and talk about them, the sooner you can get support. This could be talking to a family member or friend, or to a health professional like your doctor or midwife. 

Dealing with postnatal depression 

“Hearing the doctor say she thought I had postnatal depression was initially a shock, but it started to make sense.”

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

About maternal mental health

About maternal mental health 

What are perinatal mental health problems? 

A 'perinatal' mental health problem is one that you experience any time from becoming pregnant up to a year after you give birth. 

Having a baby is a big life event. It's natural to experience a range of emotions during pregnancy and after giving birth. But if any difficult feelings start to have a big effect on your day-to-day life, you might be experiencing a perinatal mental health problem. 

This may be a new mental health problem, or an episode of a problem you've experienced in the past. 

What does 'perinatal' mean? 

'Perinatal' means the period of time covering your pregnancy and up to roughly a year after giving birth. It's made up of two parts: 

  • peri meaning 'around' 
  • natal meaning 'birth' 

You might have also heard terms used to describe the time specifically before or after giving birth, such as: 

  • postnatal or postpartum meaning 'after birth' 
  • antenatal or prenatal meaning 'before birth' 

There's no right or wrong word to describe the period of time around pregnancy and after birth, and you might hear your doctor or midwife use any of these. 

How pregnancy impacted my mental health 

"My pregnancy turned into the hardest time of my life. I was in a constant state of agitation... My whole body was consumed." 

Common perinatal mental health problems 

These information pages cover some of the most common perinatal mental health problems: 

  • Perinatal depression 
  • Perinatal anxiety 
  • Perinatal OCD 
  • Postpartum psychosis 
  • Postpartum PTSD 

Some women also experience eating problems during and after pregnancy. Pregnancy charity Tommy's (based in the UK) has specific information about eating disorders in pregnancy. It may also help to read our pages on eating problems. 

"It took a lot of courage to tell someone that I was experiencing suicidal thoughts and had sought help from my family doctor." 

Managing existing mental health problems during pregnancy 

If you have a mental health problem and you get pregnant, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. You can also speak to your doctor about your mental health if you are planning to become pregnant in the future. 

Your doctor can help you make plans to manage your mental health during pregnancy. They can also help you think about any extra support you might need. 

You might find it helpful to read our information on how to talk to your doctor before having this conversation. 

"I had been diagnosed with PTSD prior to my pregnancy. When I became pregnant with my daughter I had 'crisis' episodes and was referred to a consultant who helped me to identify my triggers." 

If I became unwell last time I was pregnant, will it happen again? 

If you have experienced a mental health problem during or after a previous pregnancy, there is more risk of you becoming unwell again. But this doesn't mean you definitely will. 

If you became unwell during a previous pregnancy, you might worry about having another baby. But you may feel more confident about how to look after yourself. And you may know how to spot any signs that you are becoming unwell. 

If you do become pregnant again, it's important to talk to your family doctor, obstetrician, or existing mental health clinician about how you can look after your mental health. You should also think about what kind of support you might need. 

See the women's health section of the Family Health Department for more information about services available.  

"I found it hard because, whilst people talk about postnatal depression, there is very little discussion of mental ill health in pregnancy and it is supposed to be such a joyful time." 

Managing mental health problems with a new baby 

If you recently had a baby and you're struggling with your mental health, it may seem difficult to talk openly about how you're feeling. You might feel: 

  • pressure to be happy and excited 
  • like you have to be on top of everything 
  • worried you're a bad parent if you're struggling with your mental health 
  • worried that someone will take your baby away from you if you are open about how you're feeling. 

But if you are finding things difficult, it is important to know that having these feelings is not your fault. You can ask for help or support if you need it. 

If you need support, see the women's health section of the Family Health Department for more information about services available.  

Will I hurt my baby? 

If you experience thoughts about harming your baby, this can be very frightening. But it's important to remember that having these thoughts doesn't actually mean you are going to harm your child. 

You might be afraid to tell anyone about these feelings. But the more you can bring your feelings out into the open and talk about them, the sooner you can get support. This could be talking to a family member or friend, or to a health professional like your doctor or midwife. 

Dealing with postnatal depression 

"Hearing the doctor say she thought I had postnatal depression was initially a shock, but it started to make sense."