Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, Malaysia
  • 3 Psychiatry Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kem Sungai Besi, Malaysia
  • 4 Psychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Malaysia
  • 5 Psychological Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Jalan Sultan Mahmud, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia
PMID: 37529757 DOI: 10.1089/whr.2023.0027

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This policy brief examines the national health and action plans, laws and regulations, public health policies, and clinical practice guidelines in Malaysia on postnatal depression (PND).

METHODS: We examined and included 13 documents for the presence or lack of a statement of intent and/or actions related to caring for women at risk for or experiencing PND.

RESULTS: Although PND is actively researched and included in the clinical practice guidelines, no other policy documents mention PND.

CONCLUSION: General recommendations to address this matter include channeling resources into developing care for PND, increasing advocacy work to reduce stigma, setting up appropriate training pathways for health care providers, and creating more roles and user-friendly modules for local volunteers to deliver mental health interventions.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.