Perinatal Mental Health Guidance for Obstetricians and Gynecologists from ACOG
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is the premier professional organization for obstetricians / gynecologists with over 60,000 members. ACOG produces practice guidelines for health care professionals and educational materials for patients. In addition, they provide practice management and career support, facilitate programs and initiatives to improve women’s health, and advocate for members and patients.
ACOG has recently provided several new publications and learning opportunities in regards to perinatal mental health, including new clinical practice guidelines, a perinatal mental health toolkit, patient safety bundles, and e-learning modules.
In this article, we’ve compiled the latest materials and information to increase awareness and access for obstetricians / gynecologists.
Screening and Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions during Pregnancy and Postpartum (Clinical Practice Guideline #4)
The purpose of this Clinical Practice Guideline is to review evidence on the current understanding of mental health conditions in pregnancy and postpartum and to outline guidelines for screening and diagnosis that are consistent with the best available scientific evidence. Learn more.
Treatment and Management of Mental Health Conditions during Pregnancy and Postpartum (Clinical Practice Guideline #5)
The purpose of this Clinical Practice Guideline is to assess evidence regarding safety and efficacy of psychiatric medications to treat mental health conditions during pregnancy and lactation. Learn more.
Addressing Perinatal Mental Health Conditions in Obstetric Settings (e-module)
This free e-module provides information and resources that will help obstetric care clinicians detect, assess, treat, monitor, and follow up with patients experiencing perinatal mental health conditions. The goal of this e-module is to help integrate mental health and obstetric care and help obstetric care clinicians increase access to timely and evidence-based mental health care for their obstetric patients. Learn More.
Perinatal Mental Health Toolkit
This Toolkit includes actionable information, algorithms, and clinical pearls to support detection, assessment, and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. The Toolkit includes a summary of perinatal mental health, guidance on integrating care into the obstetric setting, resources for those impacted by perinatal mental health conditions, and more. Learn More.
Guide for Integrating Mental Health Care into the Obstetric Practice
This guide provides strategies for operationalizing mental health screening, assessment, treatment, referral, monitoring, and follow up for mental health care in obstetric practices, including a three-phase approach (plan, implement, and sustain). While this process has common core elements it must also be tailored for each unique practice setting—for example, how to start and where to focus implementation efforts will vary among practices. Learn More.
Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health: Safety Bundle for Perinatal Mental Health
Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health, or “AIM,” is a partnership between ACOG and the Health Resources and Services Administration. They provide patient safety bundles (PSBs) focused on improving maternal health outcomes. The Patient Safety Bundle for Perinatal Mental Health includes actionable steps that can be incorporated into clinical settings and focuses on readiness, recognition, prevention, response, reporting and systems learning, and respectful, equitable, and supportive care. Learn More.
