Riverside County Public Health Nursing/MCAH S.M.I.L.E. (Supporting Mothers in Life's Emotions) program: A Support Program for Women suffering from Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. A Discussion of the Development, the Accomplishments, and the Challenges of this Progressive Program

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) cause significant morbidity. Ten to 20% of childbearing women and families will be affected. High risk factors can increase its incidence up to 30%. This can lead to family unit breakdown, decreased maternal/infant bonding and attachment, and in severe cases suicide or infanticide.

Research has shown women prefer talking within their support network versus traditional mental health care. This presentation discusses the development of the pilot program, Riverside County New Mothers Support Group program, into the current S.M.I.L.E – Supporting Mothers in Life’s Emotions.

In the pilot program, eleven pregnant and postpartum women were enrolled in the ten-week support group with pre and post-tests, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). In 2011, due to success, the pilot program was expanded to weekly support group services countywide with pre and post-tests, EPDS and Mills Depression/Anxiety Symptom-Feeling Checklist (Mills). 150 women were enrolled in 2011 and 152 women were enrolled in 2012. In 2013, the program name changed to S.M.I.L.E and the support regimen was revised to bi-monthly support groups, home listening visits, and family evening meetings.

In the pilot program, the mean percent change between EPDS pre and post-test was 36%. In 2011, the mean percentage change between EPDS pre and post-test was 12% and 16% for Mills. In 2012 the mean percentage change between EPDS pre and post-test was 29% and 31% for Mills.

S.M.I.L.E is an innovative program that has decreased depression and anxiety symptoms and is a promising development of evidence based PMADs support programs.