How Can We Help? Nursing leaders raise awareness about postpartum depression through a collaborative community initiative

By working collaboratively, nursing leaders in the obstetrics arena in Des Moines, Iowa concluded that patient awareness regarding postpartum depression was lacking in hospital postpartum discharge teaching.  As a result, a multidisciplinary collaborative was formed to study this issue, offering appropriate recommendations and actions.

The group consisted of nursing leaders in obstetrics at Des Moines area hospitals, representatives from visiting nurses, insurance program administrators, social workers and other caregivers dedicated to serving the needs of the new mother and her family.

Using research and information provided by researchers from the University of Iowa, the group concluded that a first step of this initiative was to make sure mothers were presented with basic information related to postpartum depression while in the hospital following their delivery.  A component of that was to include possible referral sources in central Iowa for women desiring services.

The first phase of this project was designing and distributing a brochure that is used in the four Des Moines hospitals providing obstetrical services.  The brochure offers basic education and referral options related to postpartum depression.  It is a common tool used in discharge teaching by obstetrical nurses throughout the city.

In preparation for using this brochure, nurses were educated about the project and its background, made aware of the goals, and educated on the use of the brochure.

Future "next steps" of this initiative include developing further educational tools to be distributed and used by physician offices, including obstetricians, pediatricians, family practitioners and nurse midwives.  Tracking telephone referrals and inquiry data will be used to establish the need for a support group locally.  In addition, the group is working with visiting nurses to develop a more aggressive screening and referral mechanism along with the Iowa Department of Public Health to promote education and awareness about postpartum depression and its impact on families.

Nurses have taken the lead in this extensive community endeavor and have the support of their hospitals, physicians and community mental health providers.