An article from Thanksgiving Day in the New Haven Register echoes the discussion we had in class on Monday. According to researchers, one in five new mothers may experience mental health challenges that impact their ability to effectively care for their children. A pediatrician is in a unique position to assess a mother’s mental state because that physician sees her so often at monthly well-baby visits. Generally, pediatricians believe it is important to promote maternal mental health at these visits because a mother’s mental well-being affects her child’s mental development. However, pediatricians sometimes struggle with how best to address maternal mental health concerns. Can you share any ideas/suggestions that were sparked by Monday’s discussion and/or the following article?

http://www.nhregister.com/health/20141127/study-pediatricians-could-help-identify-mental-health-illnesses-in-moms