Recently, I discovered Addressing Postnatal Depression as a Healthcare Professional on FutureLearn. I am not a healthcare professional, but a family member was diagnosed with postnatal depression (PND). I took the course to better understand the condition.
Although this course is aimed at healthcare professionals, it steers clear of advanced jargon and is easily understood by non-health specialists. It explains PND and presents a plan for dealing with it, complete with handbooks for both the health professional and the mother. The course also mentions situations that should be referred on to specialist care.
It is made as a three-week course, but I worked my way through the whole thing in a few days. One of the longest steps was reading through the therapist and client handbooks, available as PDFs on the very first page of the course. The handbooks outline a 6-week strategy to manage PND.
The course has some useful and reassuring information for mothers and their families. It covers anxiety and the fear of some mothers that if they admit to having trouble coping, they might have their baby taken away.
Keeping a list of local resources is recommended, so the health professional can offer the mother further sources of support.
Acceptance and Reassurance
Throughout, Addressing Postnatal Depression as a Health Professional has a reassuring tone for mothers and their families. The 6-week strategy recommends weekly meetings to discuss progress made (or not) and what to try each coming week. It mentions various situations, such as when the mother does not have the support of a partner.
When suffering from depression, it can be easy to fall into the trap of Triggers Reactions Avoidance Patterns. We may react by trying to avoid or ignore problems (triggers), but they often build up instead of going away. The course teaches us how to turn TRAPs into TRACs (Trigger Reaction Alternative Coping).
Acting inside-out is acting according to our inner feelings. We may sit in front of the television because we’re feeling overwhelmed by a long list of chores to do. Changing our behaviour to act outside-in means saying “Ok, I have a lot to do today, so I’ll start by doing this task.” In this way, we start doing things, despite how we feel inside. Perhaps a Pomodoro could help!
Some Material Covered in the Course
- PND symptoms and the cycle of depression
- When to treat and when to refer
- Keeping a mood diary
- Self-care activities
- Acting inside-out and outside-in
- Turning TRAPs into TRACs
- Good communication
- Role plays and planning conversations
- Identifying warning signals
- Planning ahead
Many of the strategies can help with general depression or low mood. The course also offers practical ways to help mothers cope and ask for help with a new baby. Remember, though, severe depression can be life-threatening, and specialist treatment may be needed.
FutureLearn Unlimited
Different course providers have different rules when it comes to how long you can access courses for free. Coursera currently has unlimited access for free, but for most courses, you can’t take assessments unless you pay the certificate fee. FutureLearn and edX also require payment for assessments and certificates, but they also limit how long you can view courses without paying. After your access finishes, you are no longer able to open the course unless you pay.
In 2019, FutureLearn brought out a plan where learners can pay a single amount and be eligible to earn certificates in almost every FutureLearn course. FutureLearn Unlimited costs around the same as three or four individual course upgrades. Even though I rarely pay for certificates, another benefit is that I can keep access to the course materials of any courses in which I have earned certificates, for as long as the course remains on FutureLearn.
I joined FutureLearn Unlimited in late October. So far, I have earned four certificates, and plan to earn many more before my 12-month subscription runs out. I am currently enrolled in seven courses that I want to finish soon. The trouble is, I keep finding more interesting courses rather than completing the current ones!
Because I earned a certificate, I can continue to access the course pages beyond the free 5-week period.
A Final Thought
Do you know someone with a baby? Or someone who may be suffering with low mood? Learn more about postnatal depression in this short course.
By Pat Bowden, published January 22, 2020.
