The School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin has launched a new micro-credential ‘Perinatal Mental Health and Childbirth Related Trauma.’
The impact of a traumatic birth experience can stay with women for many years, and sometimes throughout their lifetime. Research suggests that up to 30% of women who attend maternity services describe their experience of birth as traumatic.
In response, this 12-week micro-credential has been developed at Trinity College to support midwives, clinicians and allied healthcare professionals in learning about birth trauma, building upon their skills and knowledge to deliver trauma informed care, and understanding how best the mental health of mothers can be supported after birth.
Key learning outcomes
This course will enable learners to develop:
- A deep understanding of psychological birth trauma.
- The knowledge and skills to assess and identify women who have psychological birth trauma.
- Awareness of how the health system can contribute to birth trauma and steps that can be taken to minimise this negative impact.
- Awareness of the principles of trauma informed care and will be reflective of their own practice and that of the institution they work in.
- The ability to support women with psychological birth trauma in the maternity care setting.
- Awareness of the different treatment modalities and how to access them.
Take the next step
The micro-credential commences in January 2026, and applications are welcomed from midwives, medical practitioners, allied health professionals working in a perinatal setting or with and obstetric population, and clinicians working in the area of women's health.