Recommendations for mental health professionals in the NICU

M T Hynan; Z Steinberg; L Baker; R Cicco; P A Geller; S Lassen; C Milford; K O Mounts; C Patterson; S Saxton; L Segre; A Stuebe

doi:10.1038/jp.2015.144

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Recommendations for mental health professionals in the NICU

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Recommendations for mental health professionals in the NICU

M T Hynan, Z Steinberg, L Baker, R Cicco, P A Geller, S Lassen, C Milford, K O Mounts, C Patterson, S Saxton, …

Journal of perinatology, Vol.35 Suppl 1(1), pp.S14-S18

12/2015

DOI: 10.1038/jp.2015.144

PMCID: PMC4660044

PMID: 26597800

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Abstract

This article describes recommended activities of social workers, psychologists and psychiatric staff within the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). NICU mental health professionals (NMHPs) should interact with all NICU parents in providing emotional support, screening, education, psychotherapy and teleservices for families. NMHPs should also offer educational and emotional support for the NICU health-care staff. NMHPs should function at all levels of layered care delivered to NICU parents. Methods of screening for emotional distress are described, as well as evidence for the benefits of peer-to-peer support and psychotherapy delivered in the NICU. In the ideal NICU, care for the emotional and educational needs of NICU parents are outcomes equal in importance to the health and development of their babies. Whenever possible, NMHPs should be involved with parents from the antepartum period through after discharge.

Parenting - psychology

Intensive Care Units, Neonatal - organization & administration

Mental Health Services - organization & administration

Education, Nonprofessional - methods

Humans

Social Support

Adult

Professional-Family Relations

Infant, Newborn

Adaptation, Psychological

Details

Title: Subtitle: Recommendations for mental health professionals in the NICU
Creators: M T Hynan - Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Z Steinberg - Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
L Baker - Department of Social Work, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
R Cicco - Department of Neonatology, West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
P A Geller - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
S Lassen - Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
C Milford - Cheryl Milford Consulting, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
K O Mounts - Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care/Perinatal Foundation, Madison, WI, USA
C Patterson - Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
S Saxton - Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
L Segre - College of Nursing, and Department of Psychological and Brain Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
A Stuebe - Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of perinatology, Vol.35 Suppl 1(1), pp.S14-S18
DOI: 10.1038/jp.2015.144
PMID: 26597800
PMCID: PMC4660044
NLM abbreviation: J Perinatol
ISSN: 0743-8346
eISSN: 1476-5543
Publisher: United States
Language: English
Date published: 12/2015
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Nursing
Record Identifier: 9984064266902771

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