Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) affect up to one in five birthing individuals, yet families often struggle to understand symptoms, screening results, and treatment options during an already overwhelming period. Complex medical language, fragmented care systems, and limited visit time further hinder effective communication. This session presents practical, health literacy–informed strategies to improve how perinatal mental health is explained to patients, caregivers, and interdisciplinary care teams. Drawing on clinical experience, participants will learn how to translate PMAD concepts into plain language, use visual tools to support comprehension, and structure conversations.
Objectives:
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Describe plain-language approaches for communicating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), screening results, and treatment options to patients and caregivers.
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Apply at least one structured or visual communication strategy to support patient comprehension during discussions of risk, safety planning, and treatment planning.
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Employ health literacy–informed techniques to assess and reinforce patient understanding during perinatal mental health encounters.