Perinatal mental health nursing consultations: scoping review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0223e.45247Keywords:
pregnant people; postpartum period; health promotion; mental health; nursing care; perinatalAbstract
Introduction: Perinatal mental health is a public health priority, given the high prevalence of emotional disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period and their impact on maternal well-being, child development, and family dynamics. Nursing plays a central role in promotion, prevention, and intervention in this area, which justifies the systematic mapping of existing interventions and practices.
Objective: To map and characterize nursing interventions in mental health for women during the perinatal period, describing implementation modalities and types of interventions across different care settings.
Methods: Scoping review conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. The search was carried out in international nursing and health databases, without time or language restrictions. Studies describing nursing interventions, programmes, or practices in perinatal mental health were included.
Results: Twenty-four studies were included, identifying interventions in hospital, community, home-based, and digital settings. There was a predominance of interventions in the postpartum period and a greater frequency of psychosocial, psychoeducational, and community-based approaches. The interventions included structured individual care, group programmes, home visits, and specialized interventions aimed at promoting psychological well-being, preventing mental disorders, and supporting more complex situations.
Conclusion: Nursing plays a relevant role in perinatal mental health, with a diversity of interventions and clinical contexts. This review contributes to mapping the available evidence, identifying patterns and gaps that may contribute to practice, education, and future research, while not allowing for generalizable clinical recommendations.
Downloads
References
Alves, S. P., Ribeiro, I., Néné, M., & Sequeira, C. (2024). Perinatal mental health nurse counselling programme: A pilot study. Millenium - Journal of Education, Technologies, and Health, 2(15e), e35142. https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0215e.35142
Alves, S. P., Costa, T., Ribeiro, I., Néné, M., & Sequeira, C. (2023). Perinatal mental health counselling programme: A scoping review. Patient education and counseling, 106, 170–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2022.10.347
Arksey, H., & O’Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
Baziyants, G. A., Dodge, K. A., Goodman, W. B., Bai, Y., Murphy, R. A., & O’Donnell, K. (2025). Promoting long-term parent and caregiver mental health through universal postnatal nurse home visiting: Intervention effects and mechanisms of action. Prevention Science, 26(6), 921–931. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-025-01827-6
Cai, W., & Wang, J. (2025). Preventive effects of light music on postpartum anxiety and depression in primiparous Women. Noise and Health, 27(127), 358–366. https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.nah_56_25
Chen, X., Yao, L., & Pi, X. (2025). Exploration of intervention strategies for alleviating maternal separation anxiety from the perspective of obstetrics and neonatology collaboration. Medicine, 104(24), e42688. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000042688
Chuffo Siewert, R., Cline, M., & Segre, L. S. (2015). Implementation of an Innovative Nurse-Delivered Depression Intervention for Mothers of NICU Infants. Advances in Neonatal Care, 15(2), 104–111. https://doi.org/10.1097/anc.0000000000000146
Coates, D., & Foureur, M. (2019). The Role and Competence of Midwives in Supporting Women with Mental Health Concerns during the Perinatal period: a Scoping Review. Health & Social Care in the Community, 27(4), 389–405. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12740
Dol, J., Mselle, L. T., Campbell-Yeo, M., Columba Mbekenga, Thecla Kohi, McMillan, D., Dennis, C.L., Murphy, G. T., & Aston, M. (2024). Essential Coaching for Every Mother Tanzania (ECEM-TZ): Protocol for a type 1 hybrid effectiveness implementation randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 13, e63454. https://doi.org/10.2196/63454
Ediz, Ç., & Kavak Budak, F. (2023). Effects of psychosocial support-based psychoeducation for Turkish pregnant adolescents on anxiety, depression and perceived social support: a randomized controlled study. Rural and Remote Health, 23(3), 7553. https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH7553
Filiz Değirmenci, K. P. A. Kisaçam, & Yilmaz, D. V. (2025). Effects of Non-pharmacological Interventions on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression of Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Network Meta‐Analysis. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 22(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.70034
Fisher, J. R., Wynter, K. H., & Rowe, H. J. (2010). Innovative psychoeducational program to prevent common postpartum mental disorders in primiparous women: A before and after controlled study. BMC Public Health, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-432
Fisher, J., Rowe, H., Wynter, K., Tran, T., Lorgelly, P., Amir, L. H., Proimos, J., Ranasinha, S., Hiscock, H., Bayer, J., & Cann, W. (2016). Gender-informed, psychoeducational programme for couples to prevent postnatal common mental disorders among primiparous women: cluster randomized controlled trial. BMJ Open, 6(3), e009396. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009396
Gennaro, S., B. M. Melnyk, Szalacha, L. A., Gibeau, A. M., Hoying, J., O’Connor, C. M., Cooper, A. R., & Aviles, M. M. (2024). Effects of Two Group Prenatal Care Interventions on Mental Health: An RCT. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 66(5), 797–808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2024.01.005
Gökçe İsbir, G., Yılmaz, M., & Thomson, G. (2021). Using an emotion‐focused approach in preventing psychological birth trauma. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 58(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12867
Goodman, J. H., Guarino, A. J., & Prager, J. E. (2013). Perinatal Dyadic Psychotherapy. Journal of Family Nursing, 19(3), 295–323. https://doi.org/10.1177/1074840713484822
Gu, P., Chen, Y., & Wu, M. (2025). Impact of Humanistic and Psychological Nursing on Postpartum Women: A Comparative Study. Alternative therapies in health and medicine, 31(4),193–199.
Horowitz, J. A., Murphy, C. A., Gregory, K., Wojcik, J., Pulcini, J., & Solon, L. (2013). Nurse Home Visits Improve Maternal/Infant Interaction and Decrease Severity of Postpartum Depression. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 42(3), 287–300. https://doi.org/10.1111/1552-6909.12038
Katrine Røhder, A. K. Aarestrup, M. S. Væver, R. K. Jacobsen, & Schiøtz, M. (2022). Efficacy of a randomized controlled trial of a perinatal adaptation of COS-P in promoting maternal sensitivity and mental wellbeing among women with psychosocial vulnerabilities. PLOS ONE, 17(12), e0277345–e0277345. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277345
Kim, S. J., & Seo, J. M. (2018). Effects of a maternal role adjustment program on first-time mothers. Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing, 24(3), 322. https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2018.24.3.322
King, C., Hayes, M., Maldonado, L., Monter, E., Aujla, R., Phlegar, E., Smith, C., Parker, L., Blome, K., Sandford, A., Douglas, E., & Guille, C. (2025). A perinatal psychiatry access program to address rural and medically underserved populations using telemedicine. BMC Women S Health, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03561-1
Liblub, Pringle, K., McLaughlin, K., & Cummins, A. (2024). Peer support and mobile health for perinatal mental health: A scoping review. Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care, 51(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12814
McCarter, D. E., Demidenko, E., Sisco, T. S., & Hegel, M. T. (2019). Technology‐assisted nursing for postpartum support: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 75(10), 2223–2235. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14114
Mohamed, A. H., Abobaker, R. M., Ibrahim, M. I. T., AlHseinat, M. M., Ali, H. M., Razek, R. A. A., Albougami, A., Berdida, D. J. E., & Elrefaey, S. R. I. (2025). Effect of nursing intervention based on Ratu’s model for preventing postpartum blues and depression among primiparous women: A treatment-control design. Women’s Health, 21. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057251323155
Moran, E., Noonan, M., M. M. Mohamad, & O’Reilly, P. (2023). Women’s experiences of specialist perinatal mental health services: a qualitative evidence synthesis. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 26(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-023-01338-9
Nisar, A., Yin, J., Yiping, N., Lanting, H., Zhang, J., Wang, D., Rahman, A., & Li, X. (2020). Making therapies culturally relevant: translation, cultural adaptation and field-testing of the Thinking Healthy Programme for perinatal depression in China. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03044-1
Noonan, M., Galvin, R., Doody, O., & Jomeen, J. (2016). A qualitative meta-synthesis: public health nurses role in the identification and management of perinatal mental health problems. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 73(3), 545–557. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13155
Oliveira, L.C. C. de, Batagliotti, G. G. e Queija, C. C. S. (2025). Atuação da enfermagem frente à depressão pós-parto: impactos no vínculo mãe-bebê e no cuidado neonatal. Brazilian Journal of Implantology and Health Sciences, 7(7), 1560–1572. https://doi.org/10.36557/2674-8169.2025v7n7p1560-1572
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Sham-seer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., & McGuinness, L. A. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. British Medical Journal, 372(71). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Pessagno, R. A., & Hunker, D. (2012). Using Short-Term Group Psychotherapy as an Evidence-Based Intervention for First-Time Mothers at Risk for Postpartum Depression. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 49(3), 202–209. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6163.2012.00350.x
Peters, M., Godfrey, C., McInerney, P., Munn, Z., Trico, A., & Khalil, H. (2020). Chapter 11: Scoping reviews. JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. https://doi.org/10.46658/jbimes-20-12
Porcel, G. da S., & Silva, M. M. de J. (2023). O cuidado de enfermagem à gestante com depressão: revisão integrativa da literatura. SMAD, Revista Eletrônica Saúde Mental Álcool E Drogas, 19(2), 120-30. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1806-6976.smad.2023.190898
Sawyer, A., Kaim, A., Le, H.-N., McDonald, D., Mittinty, M., Lynch, J., & Sawyer, M. (2019). The effectiveness of an app-based nurse-moderated program for new mothers with depression and parenting problems (eMums Plus): Pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(6), e13689. https://doi.org/10.2196/13689
Scroggins, Harkins, S. E., Brown, S., Victoria St Clair, LeBron, G. K., & Barcelona, V. (2024). A systematic review of community-based interventions to address perinatal mental health. Seminars in Perinatology, 151945–151945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semperi.2024.151945
Segre, L. S., OʼHara, M. W., Arndt, S., & Beck, C. T. (2010). Screening and counseling for postpartum depression by nurses. MCN, the American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 35(5), 280–285. https://doi.org/10.1097/nmc.0b013e3181e62679
Segre, L. S., Stasik, S. M., O’Hara, M. W., & Arndt, S. (2010). Listening visits: An evaluation of the effectiveness and acceptability of a home-based depression treatment. Psychotherapy Research: Journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, 20(6), 712–721. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2010.518636
Silva, M. R. da, Krebs, V. A., Bellotto, P. C. B., Bravo, A. F., Campos, P. M., & Abrão, R. (2022). A atuação da enfermagem frente ao risco de depressão pós-parto. Research, Society and Development, 11(8), e54611831227. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i8.31227
Spadaro, B., Martin-Key, N. A., Funnell, E., & Bahn, S. (2021). m-Health solutions for perinatal mental health: A scoping review and appraisal following the MIND framework (Preprint). JMIR MHealth and UHealth. https://doi.org/10.2196/30724
Tachibana, Y., Koizumi, N., Akanuma, C., Tarui, H., Ishii, E., Hoshina, T., Suzuki, A., Asano, A., Sekino, S., & Ito, H. (2019). Integrated mental health care in a multidisciplinary maternal and child health service in the community: The findings from the Suzaka trial. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2179-9
Tricco, A. C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O’Brien, K. K., Colquhoun, H., Levac, D., Moher, D., Peters, M. D. J., Horsley, T., Weeks, L., Hempel, S., Akl, E. A., Chang, C., McGowan, J., Stewart, L., Hartling, L., Aldcroft, A., Wilson, M. G., Garritty, C., & Lewin, S. (2018). PRISMA Extension for Scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation. Annals of Internal Medicine, 169(7), 467–473. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0850
Tsuji, S., Fujii, K., Ando, M., Katsura, D., Yutaka Yoneoka, Amano, T., Yamada, Y., Noda, M., Nao Kamagahara, Nakai, A., Ozeki, Y., Kimura, F., & Murakami, T. (2021). Impact of a psychiatric nurse specialist as a liaison for pregnant women with mental disorders. The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 253(2), 95–99. https://doi.org/10.1620/tjem.253.95
Vignato, J., Beck, C. T., Conley, V., Inman, M., Patsais, M., & Segre, L. S. (2021). The lived experience of pain and depression symptoms during pregnancy. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 46(4), 198–204. https://doi.org/10.1097/nmc.0000000000000724
Wang, H., Wu, H., Zhang, Y., & Ding, Q. (2024). WeChat continuity nursing on postpartum depression and quality of life in primipara undergoing cesarean delivery. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 30(12), 262-268. https://shre.ink/7ofZ
Wang, T., Pai, L., Tzeng, Y., Yeh, T., & Teng, Y. (2021). Effectiveness of nurses and midwives‐led psychological interventions on reducing depression symptoms in the perinatal period: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Nursing Open, 8(5), 2117–2130. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.764
World Health Organization (2022). Guide for integration of perinatal mental health in maternal and child health services. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240057142
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Millenium - Journal of Education, Technologies, and Health
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who submit proposals for this journal agree to the following terms:
a) Articles are published under the Licença Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0), in full open-access, without any cost or fees of any kind to the author or the reader;
b) The authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication, allowing the free sharing of work, provided it is correctly attributed the authorship and initial publication in this journal;
c) The authors are permitted to take on additional contracts separately for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in this journal (eg, post it to an institutional repository or as a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal;
d) Authors are permitted and encouraged to publish and distribute their work online (eg, in institutional repositories or on their website) as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as increase the impact and citation of published work
Documents required for submission
Article template (Editable format)
