Primary care medical practices

You work as a community health social worker serving a group of primary care medical practices. Laura, 22, is a new mother who has been referred to you by one of the local GPs. She has presented to the GP as lonely and ‘not coping’. The GP does not believe Laura is depressed, but instead feels she is challenged by her new role as a mother.

She also wants to give up smoking. Laura lives in a cottage on a farm 20km out of town with her partner, Dave, and her 3-month-old daughter, Chloe. The farm belongs to Dave’s father, who farms the property and lives close by. Dave works in town during the day. You make an appointment with Laura to see her at home.

When speaking to her on the phone,  you get the impression that Laura is pleased to be able to talk to someone about her situation. uIn pairs, note down your responses to the following:

What types of information do you need to find out from Laura about her situation?

How might the environment in which Laura lives impact upon her at this point in time?

Developmentally: what are some of the life-stage factors that Laura and Dave are facing?

uMaiden & Egan (2016, pg150)