Husnul Khotimah, Maria Oktasari, Herul Wahyudin
Darby et al. showed that neonatal nurses perceive neonatal admission as profoundly traumatic for parents and recognise substantial post-discharge PTSD risk, yet also consider current perinatal mental health support to be inadequate. This letter proposes that such findings should be interpreted as a clinically important early-warning signal rather than only as perceived prevalence estimates. Building directly on the article's five trauma domains, we suggest a realistic nurse-led, trauma-informed trigger-to-checkpoint pathway for early detection of parental PTSD risk, with three practical contact points: early admission, post-critical event or procedure, and pre-discharge. This proposal offers a direct response to the service gap identified in the original article by converting bedside observations into structured, proportionate action. It also highlights the value of focused trauma-informed micro-skills training to support emotionally validating communication, brief supportive intervention, and referral processes. Finally, a father-inclusive design is recommended to reduce the risk of under-recognising paternal distress. This perspective strengthens the article's clinical implications without extending beyond its original scope. © 2026 Neonatal Nurses Association.
Department Elementary School Teacher Education, Institut Pembina Rohani Islam Jakarta, East Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia; Department of Guidance and Counseling, Universitas Negeri Malang, East Java, Malang, Indonesia; Department of Guidance and Counseling, Universitas Indraprasta PGRI Jakarta, East Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia
