A new mother experiencing anxiety about her parenting role is encouraged to join a support group. What type of prevention does this exemplify?

This scenario exemplifies primary prevention because it addresses potential mental health issues before they occur or escalate. Primary prevention focuses on promoting overall well-being and preventing mental health problems, rather than waiting for symptoms to arise. By encouraging the new mother to join a support group, the aim is to provide her with resources, social support, and education to manage her anxiety regarding her parenting role effectively. This proactive approach helps to mitigate feelings of isolation and anxiety, thereby fostering a healthier adjustment to her new role as a parent.

Tertiary and secondary prevention focus more on managing existing conditions or reducing the impact of already diagnosed issues. Tertiary prevention addresses the long-term effects of a condition, while secondary prevention involves early detection and intervention after symptoms have begun to appear. Therapeutic prevention is not a formal category of prevention in public health or mental health contexts, which sets primary prevention apart as the correct choice in this instance.