Postpartum
depression (PPD) is a significant public and mental health issue, with
long-lasting effects on mothers and children. It is expected to be the second
largest problem among all general health issues by the year 2030 and 10% -20% of
new mothers experience PPD globally. Early intervention has shown to be
effective yet the consensus on best practice is not clear. This systematic review aimed to synthesize prior research
to provide practical recommendations for the best practices for both intervention and prevention
of PPD. The following databases were scanned: PsychiatryOnline, PsycArticles, PsycBooks, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, ERIC, and
EBSCO. The search included the following keywords: postpartum depression,
postpartum mental health, risk factors, intervention, prevention, efficacy,
group therapy and empowerment, and perinatal and postnatal. The PRISMA
checklist was used to screen studies for inclusion. Using the described search
strategy, 45 articles were identified for synthesis. The following themes emerged in the literature: a variety of approaches
focus on empowerment, and perceived competency. These themes appeared across
various at-risk groups and in different cultural and socioeconomic
groups. Recommendations for further investigation include the development of
targeted treatment approaches, defining and
objectifying maternal empowerment and self-efficacy, and the development of standardized training to
improve provider competency so as to benefit mothers, children,
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