A trainer's perspective of an innovative programme teaching health visitors about the detection, treatment and prevention of postnatal depression.

Health visitors in North Staffordshire, Edinburgh and Lewisham were given the opportunity to participate in a training programme in the detection, treatment and prevention of postnatal depression, based on previously reported successful intervention strategies. They were trained in the use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and given information about the value and practice of non-directive counselling and about preventative strategies. Knowledge acquisition was evaluation by self-report questionnaires given before and after training. The health visitors were encouraged to screen postnatal women at three specified times using the EPDS and to offer non-directive counselling to women who obtained high scores. A baseline measure of the incidence of postnatal depression was obtained by asking health visitors to give an EPDS form to all women in their caseload with a 6-month-old baby before training commenced. A comparison of the number of women with high EPDS scores at 6 months postnatally, before and after training, showed that participation in the programme enabled health visitors to positively influence the emotional well-being of postnatal women. These results have implications for the role of health visitors which is currently being challenged, as well as for components of their training and continuing professional development.