SUD's Scale for Postnatal Depression

SUDs Scale for Postnatal Depression

A gentle therapeutic scaling tool designed to help clients name and track distress connected to postnatal depression.

This 2-page A4 PDF adapts the Subjective Units of Distress Scale specifically for postnatal depression, using language that reflects the lived experience of PND rather than generic distress descriptions. It includes references to guilt, shame, disconnection, hypervigilance, emotional overwhelm, and the shifting intensity of postnatal depression.

Postnatal depression does not always move in a straight line. Some days may feel manageable, while others may feel frightening, heavy, or difficult to explain. This scale offers a structured but compassionate way to check in, notice changes, and support conversations around distress without judgement.

What is included:

2-page A4 PDF

A full 0 to 10 SUD’s scale written specifically for postnatal depression

PND-specific descriptors at each level

Gentle guidance on how to use the scale

Before-and-after check-in box

Grounding prompt for scores of 7 and above

A reminder that recovery does not have to be linear

Suggested use:

Individual therapy

Perinatal mental health support

EMDR preparation

Counselling and psychotherapy sessions

Client self-monitoring between appointments

Session check-ins

Grounding and regulation work

Reflective personal use

This resource may be especially helpful when clients find it difficult to explain how distressed they feel, or when practitioners want a clearer way to track changes in emotional intensity over time.

Licence:

This purchase includes a single practitioner licence. You may print and use this resource within your own practice with your own clients. This resource may not be shared, resold, redistributed, copied, edited, rebranded, or uploaded elsewhere. Organisational licences are available. Please get in touch through Place To Talk Therapies for more information.

Disclaimer:

The resources available in this shop are therapeutic tools intended to support professional practice and personal reflection. They are most safely used alongside the support of a qualified therapist, GP, midwife, health visitor, or healthcare professional. They do not constitute therapy, clinical advice, diagnosis, or a substitute for professional mental health support. Purchasing and using this resource does not create a therapeutic relationship with Place To Talk Therapies or any of its practitioners. If you are in crisis, please contact your GP, call 999, go to A&E, or call Samaritans on 116 123.

Refunds:

As this is a digital download that becomes available immediately after purchase, refunds are not available once your purchase is complete.