Women who have few social supports, poor health and a history of stressful life events are at risk of poor mental health during the perinatal period. Infants of parents whose parenting capacity is compromised are also at risk of adverse outcomes. Specifically, poor perinatal mental health can impact maternal-infant attachment. To identify women at risk of poor perinatal mental health, psychosocial assessment and depression screening in the antenatal and early postnatal periods are recommended. This qualitative study is part of a larger mixed methods study, which explored two specialist perinatal and infant mental health (PIMH) services in New South Wales (Australia). Eleven women who had accessed and been discharged from a PIMH service participated in either face-to-face or telephone interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. One overarching theme, 'my special time' and three sub-themes, 'there is someone out there for me', 'it wasn't just a job' and 'swimming or stranded: feelings about leaving the service', were identified. The themes describe the women's experiences of being a client of a PIMH service. Overall, women reported a positive experience of the service, their relationship with the clinician being a key component. Findings from this study highlight the importance of the relational aspect of care and support; however, women need self-determination in all therapeutic processes, including discharge, if recovery and self-efficacy as a mother are to be gained. Importantly, further research is needed about how clinicians model a secure base and how mothers emulate this for their infants.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	attachment; perinatal and infant mental health; psychosocial; qualitative research; relationship/s; secure base; women
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Public Health and Health Services
Research Field:	Mental Health
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Health and Support Services
Objective Field:	Mental Health Services
UTAS Author:	Cleary, M (Professor Michelle Cleary)
ID Code:	107470
Year Published:	2014
Web of Science® Times Cited:	14
Deposited By:	Health Sciences
Deposited On:	2016-03-16
Last Modified:	2017-11-03
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