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Periscope Project Health Care Provider Educational Opportunities

The Periscope Project exists to increase Wisconsin health care clinician’s capacity to support behavioral health needs of pregnant and postpartum women. Whether you are looking for specific information on managing treatment of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms or just looking to learn more about the broad topic of perinatal psychiatry, the Periscope Project can help.

Sharing Perinatal Mental Health Resources Statewide

Sharing perinatal mental health (PMH) resources is a vital component of Periscope's mission. While provider-to-provider consultations and educational offerings help clinicians build capacity and improve patient care, many individuals experiencing PMH challenges require a broader range of support to manage symptoms and maintain wellness. To meet this need, Periscope maintains a curated list of statewide resources, each with specialized training and experience in addressing mental health conditions during the perinatal period.

Periscope most frequently assists providers in connecting patients to psychotherapy services, PMH support groups, and psychiatric care options. Although providers can reach out specifically for resource referrals, Periscope's triage staff routinely ask all inquiring providers whether they would like resource recommendations. In some cases, the Periscope psychiatry team may recommend psychotherapy, substance use treatment, peer-to-peer support, or a psychiatric evaluation as part of the patient's care plan. Resource information is emailed to the inquiring provider.

Through this robust resource component, Periscope helps ensure that patients receive comprehensive care, ultimately improving outcomes for individuals navigating mental health challenges during the perinatal period.

Take Advantage of Opportunities; Make Mental Health Conversations a Priority

Hear Megan’s story of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and gain insight into the patients perspective. In this video, Moms Mental Health Initiative and the Periscope Project discuss ways you as the provider can be a difference maker for a mom struggling with perinatal mental health disorders. Start by taking advantage of the opportunity to discuss mental health at every visit.

I learn so much from each encounter I have with Periscope. It truly is an invaluable service. The response time and their depth of knowledge is impeccable and helps me serve my pregnant and postpartum clients so much better. Thank you!"

Midwife, Eau Claire

Other Psychiatric Access Programs

UW Addiction Consultation Provider Hotline

UW Addiction Consultation Provider Hotline

The UW Addiction Consultation Provider Hotline offers on-call help to health care providers seeking support and direction in treating their patients’ substance use problems.

  • The hotline is available weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Healthcare providers call 1-800-472-0111
  • All calls are returned within 15 minutes

When making a call please request to speak with the addiction medicine provider on-call.

Learn more about this resource
Wisconsin Child Psychiatry Consultation Program (WI CPCP)

Wisconsin Child Psychiatry Consultation Program (WI CPCP)

The goal of the Wisconsin Child Psychiatry Consultation Program (WI CPCP) is to improve mental health care for children in the state of Wisconsin by providing education, consultative support, and resource support from child psychiatrists, pediatric psychologists, and resource personnel. With this support, primary care providers are able to offer timely, quality mental health care to children and adolescents with mild-to-moderate mental and behavioral health concerns.

Learn more about WI CPCP
Lifeline for Moms

Lifeline for Moms

The National Network of Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs provides a platform to evaluate and innovate perinatal mental health services across the United States to improve outcomes for expectant and new parents, their children, and families.

Learn more about programs outside of Wisconsin

Publications & National Standard of Care Recommendations

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Periscope Project Publications

Perinatal Psychiatric Practitioner Consultation Program Delivers Rapid Response to OB/GYN Practitioners
Jennifer Doering, PhD, RN, Christina L. Wichman, DO, Audrey Laszewski, MS, Shelby Kuehn, BA, Weiming Ke, PhD
BIRTH. 2023; 00: 1-9. doi:10.1111/birt. 12722

Differences in Utilization of Perinatal Psychiatric Teleconsultation Line Between Primary Care and Mental Health Providers (PDF)
Sarah E. Slocum, MD; Christina L. Wichman, DO; Shelby Kuehn, BA; Jennifer Doering, PhD, RN
Wisconsin Medical Journal: E5, November 22, 2021

Potential Effects of Perinatal Psychiatric Teleconsultation on Provider Prescribing Confidence
Jennifer J. Doering, Christina L. Wichman, Shelby Kuehn, Audrey Laszewski, Weiming Ke
General Hospital Psychiatry 70 (2021) 78-79

Feasibility of Model Adaptations and Implementation of a Perinatal Psychiatric Teleconsultation Program
Christina L. Wichman, Audrey Laszewski, Jennifer J. Doering, Shelby Borchardt
General Hospital Psychiatry 59 (2019) 51-57

National Standard of Care Recommendations

US Preventative Services Task Force | June 2023
The USPSTF recommends screening for depression in the adult population, including pregnant and postpartum persons, as well as older adults.
View the Full Recommendation

American College of OB/GYN | June 2023
Clinical practice guidelines were updated to include recommendations that:

  • Everyone receiving well-woman, prepregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum care be screened for depression and anxiety using standardized, validated instruments.
  • Screening for perinatal depression and anxiety occur at the initial prenatal visit, later in pregnancy, and at postpartum visits.
  • Mental health screening be implemented with systems in place to ensure timely access to assessment and diagnosis, effective treatment, and appropriate monitoring and follow-up based on severity.

View the Full Recommendation

American Academy of Pediatrics | January 2019
The pediatric primary care physician has a unique opportunity to identify PPD and help prevent untoward developmental and mental health outcomes for the infant and family. Screening has proven successful in several initiatives. Intervention and referral are optimized by collaborative relationships with community resources and/or by collocated and/or integrated mental health in primary care. Routine screening for PPD should be integrated into well-child visits at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months of age. Training and continuing medical education programs should be available for all pediatric providers on the subject of PPD screening and referral.
View the Full Recommendation

Contact Us

The Periscope Project is a free program of the Medical College of Wisconsin – Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine.

Provider Consultations

(877) 296-9049
theperiscopeproject@mcw.edu

Available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. CST, excluding holidays

Response Time

  • Phone response within 30 minutes
  • Email response within one business day

Beyond Our Scope

The Periscope Project does not provide services directly to patients, prescribe medications, or provide telemedicine services.