Birth trauma
Resources for medical providers
Provider toolkits and fact sheets
Utah Maternal Mental Health Toolkit (Utah DHHS)
Tools for anyone who works with perinatal parents and their children. The toolkit provides:
- Information on how to identify and treat perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
- Patient screening and referral tools.
- Patient-focused handouts.
- Provider resources for implementation.
- Crisis-based resources.
- Supplemental screening instruments.
- Links to training videos.
Produced by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (Utah DHHS).
Obstetric Emergencies in Non-Obstetric Settings (ACOG)
- Resources for emergency department, EMS, and urgent care practitioners to help you better identify and respond to obstetric emergencies.
- Produced by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).
Perinatal Mental Health Toolkit (ACOG)
- A resource that provides information, algorithms, and clinical tools to help you detect, assess, and treat perinatal mood and anxiety disorders among your patients.
- Produced by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).
Birth Trauma and Maternal Mental Health fact sheet (MMHLA)
- Provides key facts on birth trauma and maternal mental health, quotes from women who have experienced birth trauma, factors that contribute to birth trauma, recommended reading, and where to learn more about birth trauma.
- Watch a free webinar from MMHLA with experts who share research, clinical perspectives, and personal experience with birth trauma and its intersection with maternal mental health.
- Produced by the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA).
Caring for Patients Who Have Experienced Trauma (ACOG)
- Provides recommendations for OB-GYN and other healthcare practitioners about how to recognize the effect of trauma on patients and their healthcare team.
- Produced by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).
Evidence-informed screening tools for birth trauma
Below is a list of the tools that are research-validated and easily accessible by health care professionals. Read this Maternal Mental Health Policy Center article on how to score and use these screening tools:
Psychiatry consult service (for Utah providers)
- Consultation Access Link Line to Utah Psychiatry (CALL-UP)
- The Consultation Access Link Line to Utah Psychiatry (CALL-UP) is a free statewide psychiatry consultation service for providers in Utah.
- Consult hours available Monday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Closed holidays)
- (801) 587-3636
- [email protected]
- PSI Perinatal Psychiatric Access Line
- The consultation line is available for medical professionals who are prescribers and have questions about the mental health care related to pregnant and postpartum patients and pre-conception planning. This consultation service is available for medical providers only.
- The Perinatal Psychiatric Consult Line is staffed by experts in the field of psychiatry who are members of PSI and specialists in the treatment of perinatal mental health disorders. The service is free and available by appointment.
- Fill out this form for matching with an appointment. Response time is typically one business day.
- Call 1-877-499-4773 and leave a voicemail or email [email protected] if you have questions.
Specific resources for various outcomes
Training for providers
Training on perinatal mood disorders and trauma-informed care for patients who may have experienced birth trauma. These resources are for doulas, midwives, community health workers, mental health counselors, healthcare providers, public health professionals, and more.
Birth trauma training recordings - UWNQC, September 17, 2024
- Introduction to birth trauma - Dr. Tracey Vogel, OB anesthesiologist and sexual assault counselor. The intersection of childbirth and psychological trauma. The what, how and why now of trauma-informed care.
- Interpersonal violence and pregnancy - Carey Renee Van Wagoner, MPH Candidate.
- Communication strategies - Dr. Tracey Vogel. Speaking trauma: the art of meaningful communication during stressful events.
Perinatal Mood Disorder Training: Components of Care
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Postpartum Support International has developed an internationally recognized unique evidence-based training program for health providers and social support networks.
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The 2-day course is designed for nurses, physicians, social workers, mental health providers, childbirth professionals, social support providers, or anyone interested in learning skills and knowledge for assessment and treatment of perinatal mood disorders. Registration includes a training binder, handouts, and continuing education credits. Approved for CMEs, CNEs, and CEs.
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You can take the course online or in-person.
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Once completed, you are eligible and encouraged to be listed on the Utah Maternal Mental Health Referral Network (MMHRN), which is a directory for Utah providers where patients can find local help for depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum.
Maternal Mental Health Certificate Training for Mental Health and Clinical Professionals
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This online webinar series includes eight live sessions, small group discussions, supplemental reading materials, 16 continuing education credits (where applicable), and a certificate of completion. Approved for CEUs. Scholarships available. Created by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health and Postpartum Support International.
What is birth trauma?
Resources for patients, partners, friends, and family
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