Promoting Recovery and Resilience in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health

Promoting Recovery and Resilience in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health

Level ~ Graduate Certificate
Availability ~ Semester 2
Type ~ Perinatal and Infant

Students will develop a critical understanding of the uniqueness and diversity of the lived experience of perinatal mental illness. The biopsychosocial theoretical approach orients students to the multiple risk and protective factors that can influence mental health and wellbeing in parents and caregivers. Recovery-oriented and evidence-based approaches to screening, assessment and intervention are also considered.


Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the unit, students will be able to:

  • Identify a range of perinatal mental health conditions and appropriate methods for their screening and/or assessment.
  • Identify and describe key biopsychosocial factors that contribute to the mental health and emotional well-being of parents and caregivers.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of recovery-oriented and evidence-based approaches for supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of parents and caregivers.

Weekly Schedule
Week 1 Mental Health Conditions in the Perinatal Period I
Week 2 Mental Health Conditions in the Perinatal Period II
Week 3 Enabling Effective Mental Health Care
Week 4 Screening and Psychosocial Assessment
Week 5 Prevention and Treatment
Week 6 Family LIfe
Week 7 Reflective Functioning
Week 8 Issues and Challenges
Week 9 Mental Health and Wellbeing of Fathers
Week 10 Grandparents and Extended Family
Week 11 Perinatal Loss and Grief
Week 12 Trauma in Carers
Week 13 Trauma in Infancy
Week 14 Trauma-Informed Care in the Perinatal Period
Week 15 Vicarious Trauma