Changing the Perception Towards Postpartum Depression and Willingness to Seek Treatment with Bundled Screening and Education Protocol

Postpartum depression (PPD) can manifest within a few weeks after delivery up to one year postpartum, with symptoms including tearfulness, feelings of isolation, emotional lability, loss of appetite, and suicidal ideation. In the United States (U.S.), PPD affects as many as 20% of postpartum women, yet only 40% of those women seek treatment. Most commonly, screening occurs using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) during hospitalization in a postpartum unit, but mothers may hesitate to report symptoms because they are not educated on how common PPD is in the U.S. Other barriers include stigma surrounding mental health, fear of being judged, and fear of taking medications while breastfeeding. PPD places mothers at an increased risk for substance abuse and suicide, while infants may be at increased risk for neglect and may experience issues with their motor, cognitive, and language development. Postpartum nurses in the inpatient setting have the opportunity to screen using the EPDS for PPD prior to discharge to prioritize the well-being of mothers and their infants before they go home. By implementing a new bundled EPDS screening and education protocol on postpartum units, nurses can provide education, reassurance, and community resources/referrals prior to discharge which has been a missed learning opportunity in the past. This is the first step in mothers being more likely to report depressive symptoms with current and future screenings, as well as in receiving treatment sooner. Nurses will document interventions, and documentation will be evaluated eight weeks after implementation in comparison to previous screening and education rates. Mothers who received the bundle will also receive a short survey shortly after discharge to evaluate if their perception towards PPD has changed and if they plan on seeking treatment if screened positive