Help-seeking for postnatal depression as a major public health problem: A cluster randomised controlled trial of motivational interviewing

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Around 30,000 women annually suffer from postnatal depression (PND) and untreated depression has negative long-term consequences for mothers and infants. Figures from previous research indicate that only 30-50% of women who are distressed in the perinatal period seek treatment. Currently, no effective, evidence-based strategy to enhance access to services exists. There is an urgent need to redress this and determine whether we can improve uptake of treatment by women experiencing PND. The aim of this study is to examine whether a brief motivational interviewing intervention delivered in the context of a routine postnatal screening and emotional health assessment improves access to treatment when women experience PND. The key concept is to prepare and motivate women to take action for their own emotional health needs in the year following childbirth. Motivational interviewing has shown enormous success in other fields of healthcare.