Programs
The National Perinatal Depression Initiative
Beyond Blue has provided effective leadership of the National Perinatal Depression Initiative (NPDI) over the past decade, raising the awareness and assisting health professionals to screen for perinatal mental health conditions.
The National Perinatal Depression Initiative (NPDI) began in 2008, when State and Territory Governments, together with the Federal Government, agreed to collaborate on the development of a national initiative to improve the early detection of antenatal and postnatal depression and to provide better care, support and treatment for expectant and new mothers experiencing perinatal depression.
Beyond Blue has worked collaboratively with key stakeholders, experts, health professionals, government, and people with depression and anxiety, and their families, in the development of evidence-based Perinatal Clinical Practice Guidelines, research into perinatal mental health and a suite of information resources for new and expecting parents about how to support their emotional and mental health during the perinatal period.
The core activities funded by the Commonwealth Government for the period from 2013 to 2017 included:
- Routine and universal screening for depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
- Follow-up treatment, support and care for women who are at risk of, or are experiencing perinatal depression.
- Training for health professionals to help them screen expectant and new mothers to identify those at risk of perinatal depression, and to make appropriate referrals and provide treatment, care and support).
- Research and data collection.