Administer the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to screen for women/birthing parents for a possible depressive disorder in the antenatal and postnatal period.

Arrange a further assessment of perinatal women/birthing parents with an EPDS score of 13 or more.

For women/birthing parents with a positive score of 1 or above for Question 10 on EPDS, undertake or arrange further assessment and if there is any disclosure of suicidal ideation, take further action in accordance with local policy.

Complete the first antenatal screening as early as practical in pregnancy and repeat screening at least once later in pregnancy.

Complete the first postnatal screening 6–12 weeks after birth and repeat at least once in the first postnatal year.

For a woman/birthing parent with EPDS score between 10–12, monitor and repeat assessment with the EPDS in 2–4 weeks’ time. Use clinical judgement in planning, monitoring and further care.

Repeat assessment with the EPDS at any time in pregnancy and in the first postnatal year if clinically indicated.

Use appropriately translated versions of the EPDS. Consider language and cultural appropriateness of any tool used to assess psychosocial risk.