Overview

Led by Project TEACH’s expert team of perinatal psychiatrists and psychologists this intensive training program is designed to enhance your skills in recognizing, screening, assessing, and managing mental health concerns in perinatal patients. Participants will master evidence-based screening protocols for perinatal mental health disorders, substance use, and intimate partner violence, and learn to conduct comprehensive suicide risk assessment and safety planning using structured tools.

The program covers prevention and treatment of perinatal mental health disorders through both psychotherapeutic interventions and pharmacological approaches for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and insomnia during pregnancy and lactation. Through didactic presentations, case-based discussions, role plays, attendees will learn when and how to utilize Project TEACH consultation services for treatment guidance, therapy referrals, and patient linkage support.

Learning Objectives

As a result of this program, learners will:

• Apply evidence-based screening, assessment, and safety planning protocols for perinatal mental health disorders, substance use, intimate partner violence, and suicide risk using validated tools and utilize Project TEACH consultation services to access telephone consultations with perinatal psychiatrists and psychologists for medication management, safety planning, and therapy engagement support.
• Implement psychotherapeutic interventions and prevention strategies for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including evidence-based modalities with perinatal-specific adaptations, trauma-informed care approaches, and strategies to address barriers to treatment engagement in diverse populations.
• Evaluate reproductive safety profiles and apply evidence-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy strategies for perinatal mental health conditions.
• Recognize the maternal, obstetrical, and child developmental consequences of untreated perinatal mental health disorders and support patient adherence through collaborative decision-making, culturally sensitive care, and appropriate referrals to psychiatric care and community resources.

Target Audience

We encourage all who work with perinatal individuals to attend this program. Course content will directly apply to the following professions: physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, therapists, lactation counselors, doulas, and community and allied health professionals.

Tuition

Project TEACH is funded by the New York State Office of Mental Health, and all services and events, such as this intensive training, are offered at no cost to providers in New York State.