20% of pregnant Australian women don’t receive the recommended mental health screening

Dr Katrina Moss

writer

Dr Katrina Moss

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in maternal and child health, The University of Queensland

Prof Gita Mishra

writer

Prof Gita Mishra

Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland

Dr Nicole Reilly

writer

Dr Nicole Reilly

Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Newcastle

One-fifth of Australian women still don’t receive mental health checks both before and after the birth of their baby, our research has found. Although access to recommended perinatal mental health screening has more than tripled since 2000, thanks largely to government investment in perinatal mental health, our surveys show there is still some way to go before every mum gets the mental health screening needed.

Mental health issues are one of the most common complications of pregnancy. Up to 20% of women report anxiety or depression either during pregnancy or in the first year after their baby is born.

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Dr Katrina Moss

writer

Dr Katrina Moss

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in maternal and child health, The University of Queensland

Prof Gita Mishra

writer

Prof Gita Mishra

Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland

Dr Nicole Reilly

writer

Dr Nicole Reilly

Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Newcastle

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