Current Strategies for Perinatal Mental Health Care in Japan

Perinatal mental health care is required to maintain the emotional well-being of pregnant women, as well as their children, partners, and families. The mental and physical support for the pregnant and/or postpartum women with serious mental health problems should be provided with multidisciplinary collaboration in the perinatal area. The adverse outcomes related to impaired perinatal mental health are suicide and child abuse, which are the top reasons why mental health care in pregnant and/or postpartum women is important. Mental health care during the perinatal period should be provided proactively with interventions from medical practitioners. In addition, to promote the provision of information on health management for future pregnancies, "preconception care" through consultation, supported with medical examinations, is also important.