New and expectant mothers across CQ Health now have access to an advanced digital screening tool designed to enhance mental health support for mothers during the perinatal period as part of their antenatal and child health appointments.
The program called iCOPE screens mothers for symptoms of depression, anxiety and assesses psychosocial risk factors.
CQ Health’s midwifery and child health facilities are excited to be launching iCOPE and working towards the shared goal of ensuring all mothers receive mental wellbeing screening during their pregnancy and the year after the birth of their baby.
Anxiety and depression can be common feelings for mothers, which is why it is so important to make sure the mother’s mental wellbeing is being prioritised alongside her physical health.
The tool works by sending mothers an SMS with a link to a questionnaire that can be completed in the privacy and comfort of their own home, or the mother can scan a QR code at the facility and complete the questionnaire in the waiting room.
Once the questionnaire is completed the staff member can see the answers and have meaningful conversations with the mother around their mental health and take necessary steps towards improving their well-being.
It is hoped that, by using this tool, mothers can be identified who may be struggling with their mental health and work with them to have a more positive and supported journey into motherhood.
The iCOPE tool guarantees precise scoring accuracy and offers automated, customised reports for both clinicians and patients. By streamlining screening processes, iCOPE improves efficiency, accuracy, and ultimately contributes to better mental health outcomes for expectant and new mothers.
The iCOPE program has been created by the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) in partnership with Diagnostics and is funded by the Australian Commonwealth Government.
Find out more about the iCOPE program.