**Abstract**

This chapter is a perspective literature review of published policy and literature regarding psychosocial screening and assessment in the postnatal period. The postnatal period is considered from birth until 6 weeks postpartum. This chapter focuses on the postnatal period, although some resources discussed are for women perinatally. Psychosocial assessment allows the identification of circumstances that affect a woman's mental health. Postnatal mental health is a contemporary challenge as its risks have long-term effects on the mother, infant and their family. The first year postpartum has the highest rate of maternal death by suicide, especially between nine and 12 months postpartum. Postnatally, the peak rate of hospitalisation for mental illness is within the first 3 months postpartum. The greatest risk for incident hospital admission specifically for primiparous women is 10–19 days postpartum. Psychosocial screening and assessment in the postnatal period are recommended internationally. However, in the private sector in Australia this is at the discretion of the private healthcare providers (postnatal midwife, child and family health nurse, obstetrician, paediatrician). Considering the potentially high morbidity related to postnatal mood disorders, it is crucial that women, either at risk or symptomatic of maternal depression and anxiety, be identified as early as possible in the postnatal period and be subsequently referred for appropriate local management.

**Keywords:** mothers, neonatal, care, obstetric, postnatal
