Did you know that SimpliFed performs a mental health screening at every appointment?
There are many reasons why we perform mental health screenings on our patients, but one of the biggest being that nearly 20% or 1 in 5 women are diagnosed with some form of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) either pre or postpartum. For more information on PMAD disorders or Postpartum depression read our blog here:
That percentage may seem rather high, but studies show that number is only increasing. And that isn't because of the higher rate of screenings, in fact, the national average of screening is at only 17%-meaning nearly 83% of parents aren’t consistently screened or even screened at all.
The root cause of any type of PMAD depends on so many factors and no treatment plan is guaranteed to work or not work for each parent. But the one thing that is scientifically proven is that a healthy, happy parent is much more equipped to successfully raise a healthy, happy baby.
SimpliFed screens prior to every appointment
That’s why we’ve changed your typical screening process and decided to screen our patients prior to each exam. With each appointment reminder you receive from SimpliFed you will also receive a unique link to a mental health screening. The screening helps us gauge how you are feeling. The questions range from specifics about your day to day, to questions around parenthood, and more.
It’s so important to answer as honestly as possible. None of this information is ever shared with anyone but your providers. During your appointment, we may discuss how you are feeling, or even ask a few more questions. This is all so we can make sure you’re receiving the best possible care throughout your journey.
SimpiIFed will screen consistently
Every time you meet with us, we will repeat this process. You may also notice that your Women’s Health or Pediatric providers will ask you similar questions before a physical appointment. All of this is by design. The journey from pregnancy, to postpartum, to newborn life or even milestone transitions like returning to work, can all deeply affect your mental health. And just as you and your baby change, so can how you’re feeling. Although it may seem odd to answer the same questions again, we please ask that you do. Our clinical team can detect even a slight change and that could mean as little as a different conversation to developing an action plan.
Conclusion
Our goal at SimpliFed is to make sure that you and your baby are healthy throughout pregnancy and postpartum. The best way to make sure you can continue to care for your baby is to let us care for you.
If you ever have any questions regarding why we screen, specifics around the questions we ask or would prefer to answer these questions with a provider, do not hesitate to reach out.
