What if improving perinatal mental health outcomes started not with treatment, but with asking the right questions — consistently and with a plan? And what if the real problem isn’t lack of evidence, but hesitation, fear, and vague guidelines?
In this episode of The Science Chick Report, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett focuses on one of the most essential yet neglected aspects of perinatal care: screening and assessment. This session explains why screening matters, why providers often avoid it, and what must be in place before screening can be effective.
Dr. Kendall-Tackett breaks down common barriers — limited time, fear of “opening Pandora’s box,” lack of training, and uncertainty about next steps — and shows why relying on clinical judgment alone consistently fails to identify depression, anxiety, and PTSD. She contrasts vague U.S. screening recommendations with more specific international guidelines and highlights how poor implementation leads to missed opportunities for care.
This episode reframes screening not as diagnosis, but as a gateway to support. For healthcare providers, community organizations, and anyone working with pregnant or postpartum women, it offers a practical, evidence-based case for why assessment must be intentional, planned, and followed by clear action.
In This Episode:
[00:00:00] Introduction and why perinatal screening matters
[00:01:12] Screening vs. diagnosis: a critical distinction
[00:02:29] Why most new mothers are never screened
[00:03:11] Time constraints and real-world provider barriers
[00:04:41] Why screening without a follow-up plan fails
[00:08:06] Why providers miss depression without standardized tools
[00:10:05] U.S. vs. UK screening guidelines
[00:12:07] The “Pandora’s box” myth and institutional resistance
[00:13:15] Screening as an equity issue
[00:15:00] Pediatric settings as a missed screening opportunity
[00:21:00] Obstetric screening guidelines and persistent gaps
[00:26:41] What actually increases screening compliance
Notable Quotes:
[01:34] “Screening is the first step. You can’t treat what you don’t identify.” — Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
[02:52] “Most healthcare providers never screen the millions of women who give birth each year.” — Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
[04:41] “It’s useless to screen if there isn’t a plan for what happens next.” — Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
[08:06] “Providers are spectacularly bad at identifying depression without a measure.” — Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
[14:06] “Women who were screened were six times more likely to receive counseling.” — Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
Resource and Links
The Science Chick Report
Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
Mentioned
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2013) – Screening strategies
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – Perinatal screening guidance
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK) – Screening recommendations
Lain et al. (2022) – Provider resistance to screening
Declercq et al. (2021) – Listening to Mothers in California
Rafferty et al. (2019) – AAP maternal mental health policy
Statistics Canada (2019) – Postpartum depression prevalence
Kim et al. (2009) – Obstetric screening practices
30 min
19 min
Dec 31 202533 min
28 min
29 min
25 min
Nov 5 202538 min
Oct 22 202524 min