Tissier, Joan
Screening for maternal perinatal depression through the Maternal and child protection service
- 2024.
26
Maternal depression is the mental health disorder most frequently observed in the perinatal period. Perinatal maternal depression is not always easy to identify, as it can take a different form from the classic picture of depression. Anxiety and grievances about the baby’s development or health are common, while fatigue and doubt are inherent to the experience of maternity, making it difficult to spot the telltale signs of post-partum depression. The use of a standardized screening tool can help in this process. What is the status of universal screening for maternal depression during pregnancy and postpartum ? How is this screening accepted by women and by the professionals who carry it out ? This article presents an overview of knowledge on this subject, to support the introduction of systematic screening for maternal depression in a branch of the Maternal and Child Protection service in France.