How are you feeling?

Mental health screening for the perinatal period

The period around birth, during pregnancy and in the months that follow, is one of the most significant transitions a person can go through. It can also be one of the hardest. Depression and anxiety are common during this time, and they are treatable. Identifying them early makes a real difference.

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is the most widely validated screening tool for perinatal mental health. It was designed specifically for this period and screens for both depression and anxiety. It is not a diagnostic tool, but it gives you and any clinician supporting you useful, structured information about how you are doing.

A note for fathers and partners

This tool is designed primarily for mothers, but fathers and partners are encouraged to use it too. Paternal perinatal depression affects approximately one in ten fathers, a figure that rises significantly when a partner is also struggling. It is under-recognised and under-discussed.

The EPDS has been validated for use with fathers. Research suggests a slightly lower score threshold is clinically meaningful for men: a score of 6 or above warrants attention, compared to 10 for mothers.

Supporting a new mother well requires that you are well too. Taking this seriously is not a sign of weakness. It is good parenting.

When to complete this

There is no single universally agreed screening schedule, but based on current evidence and clinical guidelines, these are the time points most likely to be useful:

  • During pregnancy, ideally around 24 to 28 weeks

  • Around 6 to 8 weeks postpartum, the first postnatal check-up period

  • At 3 to 4 months postpartum, a common window for symptoms to emerge or persist

  • Any time you feel your mood or anxiety has shifted noticeably

Completing it more than once every four weeks is generally not recommended unless something has changed significantly. Repeated screening without clinical context can increase anxiety rather than reduce it. If you are concerned, the most useful step is to speak with a healthcare professional rather than repeat the screen.

Guidelines referenced: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 4 (2024); Postpartum Support International Screening Recommendations; Wisner et al., JAMA Psychiatry (2013).

The screening tool

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
Ten questions about how you have been feeling. Please answer based on the past 7 days, not just today. There are no right or wrong answers. It takes about five minutes.