The Association for Post- Natal Illness (APNI) is very proud to be sponsoring the Award for Best Health Visitor at the CPHVA Conference this year. The Association for Post-natal Illness is a voluntary organisation that specialises in offering support, information and advice to women who suffer from post-natal depression .
APNI recognises that Health Visitors can play a key role in recognising new mothers who are finding it increasingly difficult to cope. Health Visitors can gently encourage such women to seek medical help, from their GP, as well as from lay-support agencies such as Homestart and APNI.
Early diagnosis of post-natal depression, plus support during the recovery phase, can shorten the illness, ensuring that the baby is minimally affected. A good Health Visitor is of inestimable value in early detection of post-natal depression, and in making sure that a sufferer seeks and receives the help and support that she needs to recover.