Emma Yapp1, Louise M Howard2, Meeriam Kadicheeni3, Laurence A Telesia4, Jeanette Milgrom5, Kylee Trevillion6. 1. King's College London, Section of Women's Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. 2. King's College London, Section of Women's Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. Electronic address: louise.howard@kcl.ac.uk. 3. King's College London, Section of Women's Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. Electronic address: mk603@leicester.ac.uk. 4. King's College London, Section of Women's Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. Electronic address: laurence.telesia@nhs.net. 5. Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI®), Austin Health, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: jeannette.milgrom@austin.org.au. 6. King's College London, Section of Women's Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. Electronic address: kylee.trevillion@kcl.ac.uk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore women's views on the acceptability of being asked about mental health problems at antenatal booking. DESIGN: Qualitative study. SETTING: Brief semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with women in a private setting at a hospital, or at women's homes. Interview discussions centered around three key questions: "What was it like for you answering the questions about your mood?", "Were there any questions you found upsetting, distressing or confronting?" and "Did the midwife give you some feedback about your answers?" MEASUREMENTS: Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using thematic and framework approaches. PARTICIPANTS: An ethnically diverse sample [32% white British/Irish, 68% non-white, non-British] of 52 women living in the study area. FINDINGS: Most women found mental health enquiry acceptable. A smaller proportion reported difficulties and many of these women had a past or current mental health problem and/or a history of abuse. These women reported difficulty due to the emotional responses triggered by the questions and the way disclosures were handled. In general, women wanted to be asked clear questions about mental health problems, to have sufficient time to discuss issues, and to receive responses from midwives which were normalising and well-informed about mental health. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that women want midwives to ask clearly-framed questions about mental health problems [addressing past and current mental health concerns], and value responses from midwives that are normalising, well-informed and allow for discussion. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Training should be provided to midwives on how to appropriately respond to women's distress during mental health enquiry, and on referral to support services.
OBJECTIVE: To explore women's views on the acceptability of being asked about mental health problems at antenatal booking. DESIGN: Qualitative study. SETTING: Brief semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with women in a private setting at a hospital, or at women's homes. Interview discussions centered around three key questions: "What was it like for you answering the questions about your mood?", "Were there any questions you found upsetting, distressing or confronting?" and "Did the midwife give you some feedback about your answers?" MEASUREMENTS: Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using thematic and framework approaches. PARTICIPANTS: An ethnically diverse sample [32% white British/Irish, 68% non-white, non-British] of 52 women living in the study area. FINDINGS: Most women found mental health enquiry acceptable. A smaller proportion reported difficulties and many of these women had a past or current mental health problem and/or a history of abuse. These women reported difficulty due to the emotional responses triggered by the questions and the way disclosures were handled. In general, women wanted to be asked clear questions about mental health problems, to have sufficient time to discuss issues, and to receive responses from midwives which were normalising and well-informed about mental health. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that women want midwives to ask clearly-framed questions about mental health problems [addressing past and current mental health concerns], and value responses from midwives that are normalising, well-informed and allow for discussion. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Training should be provided to midwives on how to appropriately respond to women's distress during mental health enquiry, and on referral to support services.
Authors: Catherine Chamberlain; Graham Gee; Deirdre Gartland; Fiona K Mensah; Sarah Mares; Yvonne Clark; Naomi Ralph; Caroline Atkinson; Tanja Hirvonen; Helen McLachlan; Tahnia Edwards; Helen Herrman; Stephanie J Brown; And Jan M Nicholson Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2020-09-15