Postpartum psychosis (PPP) is a psychiatric emergency that can have profound consequences for mothers, infants, and families, yet its varied presentations and associated stigma can contribute to missed or delayed recognition. This presentation combines clinical knowledge with lived experience to help clinicians better recognize PPP, understand its risk factors and symptoms, and approach affected patients with curiosity, compassion, and appropriate urgency. Through a case-based discussion, participants will explore how to establish rapport, ask sensitive but essential questions, distinguish unwanted, distressing thoughts of harm from thoughts associated with intent or psychosis, and conduct a thoughtful safety assessment. The presentation will also address acute management, including hospitalization, family involvement, and psychopharmacologic treatment, as well as longer-term recovery, decisions about medication, prevention and planning for subsequent pregnancies, psychotherapy, psychosocial support, and the possibility of posttraumatic growth.

Participants of this webinar will be able to: 

• Recognize the risk factors, clinical presentations, and early warning signs of postpartum psychosis, including presentations that may be subtle, atypical, or concealed.
• Conduct a compassionate, clinically appropriate assessment of postpartum psychosis, including asking about thoughts of harm to self or infant and distinguishing unwanted, distressing thoughts from thoughts associated with intent, impaired reality testing, or psychosis.
• Describe evidence-based approaches to acute treatment and longer-term management of postpartum psychosis, including hospitalization, psychopharmacology, family involvement, relapse prevention, and planning for future pregnancies.

This webinar is for all of those working in the perinatal period as well as children birth to 5 and their families

Date & Time:

Wednesday, December 9th, 2026

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM