Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Presenters Lisa Malcolm, MSW, LICSW, PMH-C, and Clara Hill, MPH, bring complementary expertise in perinatal mental health treatment, prevention research, and rural community engagement to explore perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). Participants will first learn about PMADs’ prevalence, risk factors, and impact on individuals and communities. Then, presenters will explore strategies for prevention professionals to identify PMADs and their underlying risk factors; reduce the negative impacts of untreated PMADs (which include increased substance use and struggles with parenting); and explore the critical protective factors that positive perinatal mental health can bring to children, families, and communities.

In this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Learn what perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are and understand their prevalence, risk & protective factors, and overlap with substance use disorder.
• Dispel myths and misconceptions around perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
• Learn what role you can play in promoting positive perinatal mental health, and explore where opportunities exist for prevention professionals to connect across sectors to reduce the negative impacts of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.