Improving maternal mental health: assessing the extent of screening and training about peripartum depression

Figures & data

Table 1. Behavioral health and acute care providers responses to the survey questions: Where do you provide care? and What is your primary role?  

Where do you provide care?—Behavioral health providers only	Percent	N
Behavioral health organization (e.g. CCBHC, CMHC, private practice)	33.0%	184
Behavioral health department/service line as part of a healthcare system (e.g. inpatient psych)	53.2%	297
Primary care—Behavioral health (e.g. FQHC)	10.6%	59
Freestanding substance use treatment center/opioid treatment program	1.1%	9
Other (specify): Behavioral health provider within NICU, Early Head Start program, Health Department, Health Plan, Neonatal ICU, newborn care/postpartum care private duty, Private practice, school health	1.5%	9
Non-clinical Administrator	14.9%	83
Clinical Lead (i.e. director, manager, supervisor)	43.7%	244
Clinician (i.e. therapist, social worker, licensed counselor)	27.6%	154
Physician, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant	12.0%	67
Other (please specify): Care Coordinator, clinical nurse specialist, newborn care/postpartum care of mom, Nurse, Registered Nurse, school nurse, Staff nurse, UR/Care Manager	1.8%	10
Emergency Department	12.3%	29
OB/GYN Department	55.5%	131
Pediatrician’s office	10.2%	24
Primary Care	6.4%	15
Midwifery Clinic	1.3%	3
Other (specify): Cardiac, clinical access center, Community Health (CHHA), Family healthcare facility, Family planning, Home Health/Home Health Care, Hospital, ICU, In home lactation consultant, Infusion Center, Inpatient Maternity/LDRP, Labor and delivery, Maternal Program Manager, Maternal/child unit, med surg, Mother Baby, NICU, PACU, Post-partum unit, Pre-Op Teaching and Testing Unit, Public Health-Maternity clinic, Public Health, Postpartum & Pediatrics, Reproductive endocrinology, Special needs assistance	14.4%	34
What is your primary role?—Acute providers only	Percent	N
Physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant	30.5%	72
Registered Nurse	53.4%	126
Midwife	8.9%	21
LPN	3.0%	7
Non-clinical Administrator	2.1%	5
Other (please specify): Lactation Consultant, RN Manager, Safety RN for OB	2.1%	5

Table 2. Behavioral health and acute care providers responses to the survey questions regarding peripartum depression screening and training.

	Total		Behavioral		Acute
	Percent	N	Percent	N	Percent	N
When you know a patient is pregnant, what is your practice for screening for PPD?
Upon symptoms being presented	27.1%	215	32.3%	180	14.8%	35
Every pregnant person	51.0%	405	53.4%	298	45.3%	107
All patients regardless of pregnancy status	18.6%	148	12.9%	72	32.2%	76
No specific screening protocol	3.3%	26	1.4%	8	7.6%	18
Do you believe your organization does a good job at screening for and identifying PPD?
Yes	93.3%	741	97.3%	543	83.9%	198
No	6.7%	53	2.7%	15	16.1%	38
What kind of training in screening, identifying, and treating PPD or other PPD related topics does your organization currently give staff who have direct contact with pregnant patients?
Training in screening for PPD	50.8%	403	47.5%	265	58.5%	138
Training in identifying PPD	68.9%	547	74.9%	418	54.7%	129
Training in treating PPD	47.4%	376	53.2%	297	33.5%	79
Training in the process for establishing outpatient referrals for care	21.3%	169	22.0%	123	19.5%	46
None	4.7%	37	1.4%	8	12.3%	29
Other	1.0%	8	0.4%	2	2.5%	6
Would your organization benefit from more training in screening, identifying, and/or treating PPD?
Yes, screening	52.6%	418	52.3%	292	53.4%	126
Yes, identifying	64.5%	512	64.5%	360	64.4%	152
Yes, treating	42.6%	338	39.1%	218	50.8%	120
Yes, the process for establishing outpatient referrals for care	24.4%	194	18.5%	103	38.6%	91
No	3.5%	28	2.3%	13	6.4%	15