Title:

Perinatal Mental Health for Occupational Therapists

Description:

This e-learning course is for occupational therapists working in perinatal mental health services and those who are new to or wishing to work in this specialist area of practice. It has been developed by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists in collaboration with Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare.

The course is part of a wider blended learning package for occupational therapists working in perinatal mental health and provides them with the information and skills they need to support women’s participation in activities that are important to them and their families, and to facilitate women’s recovery from perinatal mental health problems.

The six sessions focus on:
• Information about the role of occupational therapy within community perinatal mental health teams and Mother and Baby Units
• Indications for referral to occupational therapy
• Occupational therapy assessment tools and approaches
• Occupational formulation and goal setting
• Occupational therapy interventions
• Discharge planning and evaluating occupational therapy outcomes

Each session includes information, case studies relating to the content of the session and a self-assessment to check participants’ knowledge and understanding. Links to additional information and resources are provided and participants are encouraged to create a ‘personal action plan’ detailing how they will continue their learning and develop their practice.

More information
The course content was written by a group of occupational therapy experts including clinicians, researchers and individuals with lived experience of perinatal mental health problems. Case studies are based on real life examples and include assessment/intervention plans written by experienced occupational therapists for participants to compare with their own. The course was peer reviewed by a wider group of occupational therapists and checked for quality and consistency by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ practice and professional development teams.

Hierarchy:

Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) > Perinatal Mental Health for Occupational Therapists

Keywords:

perinatal, perinatal mental health, mental health, occupational therapist, discharge, outcomes, interventions, goal setting, assessment tools, referrals, information

Created:

17 Dec 2019

Updated:

6 Jun 2023