Introduction to Perinatal and Infant Mental Health
PostgraduateUND-NURS60072025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 9 Feb 2025
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Price from
- $3,110
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Introduction to Perinatal and Infant Mental Health
About this subject
On completion of this subject students should be able to achieve the following learning outcomes:
- Define the fields of infant and perinatal mental health, and describe their history, and theoretical and philosophical underpinnings.
- Explain the importance of considering the mental health of parents and their babies and children concurrently.
- Describe the normal development of infants during foetal life and the first year of life.
- Discuss the normal psychological processes of the transition to parenthood.
- Identify the range of mental health problems that are most relevant to the perinatal period and infancy; the associated biological, psychological and social risk factors in the pre-conception, pregnant and postnatal period for the mother, the father and the infant/s; and signs and symptoms of mental illness in adults, babies, and small children.
- Describe the range of treatment approaches to perinatal and infant mental health problems, and demonstrate basic knowledge of psychopharmacology in pregnancy and postpartum.
- Identify current social and ethical issues in the field, and relate learning to key articles in the perinatal and infant mental health literature.
- History, theoretical and philosophical underpinnings
- The mental health of parents and their babies
- Prevalent mental health problems
- Social and ethical considerations
This subject provides an introduction to the field of study, integrating information about maternal and infant mental health. Dominant theoretical approaches are presented and considered together with information about infant development and pregnancy. Risk factors for mental health problems are presented for discussion and reflection, and information is provided about common disorders and treatment approaches. In addition, basic skills relating to building and presenting an argument, accessing and using professional literature, making an observational record, creating documents to professional standards, and managing one’s self under pressure will be covered.
- Analysis of journal article (20%)
- Recorded presentation uploaded to LMS (30%)
- Essay on a specialist field (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
The University of Notre Dame Australia is committed to delivering an excellent student experience, alongside a high standard of teaching, research, and training. As a leader in ethical education, Notre Dame aims to develop students’ critical reasoning and their ability to make ethical decisions—crucial skills to progressing their careers and leading purposeful lives. At Notre Dame, students navigate their future with an ethical education online.
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- QS Ranking 2024:
- 37
Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Elective
- UND-MHA-GCE-2025 - Graduate Certificate in Mental Health
- UND-MHA-GDI-2025 - Graduate Diploma of Mental Health
- UND-NUR-GCE-2025 - Graduate Certificate in Nursing
- UND-NUR-GDI-2025 - Graduate Diploma of Nursing
- UND-NUC-MAS-2025 - Master of Nursing (Coursework)
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Graduate Certificate in Mental Health
PostgraduateUND-MHA-GCE
Graduate Diploma of Mental Health
PostgraduateUND-MHA-GDI
Graduate Certificate in Nursing
PostgraduateUND-NUR-GCE
PostgraduateUND-NUR-GDI
Master of Nursing (Coursework)
PostgraduateUND-NUC-MAS