Presentation Information

Understanding Maternal Suicide and Supporting Individuals at Risk

• Speaker: Sayida Peprah , PsyD, Doula
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 60 Mins
• Credits: 1 CERP, 1 Nursing CEU, 1 CME, 0.1 Midwifery CEU

Abstract:

The occurrence of a suicide during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum is a rare but tragic event. While we expect that family members will be at a loss for how to detect or care for an acutely mentally ill loved one, it is concerning that many perinatal/maternal care and support professionals also report feeling unprepared and ill equipped to recognize and address the needs of patients in this situation. Additionally, publications on maternal mortality generally do not include information on maternal suicide, limiting providers access to updated research on the topic. During this presentation, maternal suicide research findings, as well as clinical considerations will be reviewed. Maternal suicide risks, symptoms, cultural considerations and recommendations for prevention and intervention will be reviewed. Practical scenarios for what to do in real situations will be highlighted.