Perinatal-Infant Mental Health Service
Patient information
What we do
Our service is unique in that we can assist both the parent and infant in their own right. Currently, we work with families in the post-natal period, but hope to expand to antenatal (before birth, during pregnancy) in time.
What is perinatal mental health?
Mental health conditions that affect the mood, behaviour, wellbeing and/or daily function of an expecting or new parent.
How can the Infant and Child Team help?
Our perinatal service assists new mothers or fathers who are struggling with their mental health and the transition into parenthood. This unique program focuses on adult mental health and infant development through a family-focused lens. We recognise each family member brings experience and strengths that can be harnessed through a collaborative process to address mental health symptoms in both the parent and infant, as well as any strain within the parent-child relationship.
Who can benefit from the service?
Parents with an infant aged less than six months who have mental health challenges and are struggling with the transition into parenthood. This may be because of:
- their own early, adverse experiences in childhood
- anxiety and depression
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- a stressful pregnancy
- birth trauma
- trauma (including family violence) in the perinatal period
- an experience with a Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) e.g. premature baby
- difficulty bonding with their infant.
Infants who may have had a stressful start such as:
- medical problems
- separation from parents
- persistent, severe difficulties with feeding, growth, sleeping or social connection
- trauma (including family violence) in the perinatal period.
We require parents to give informed consent and agree to a collaborative approach with their care team. Parents must be ready to engage in a therapeutic program that focuses both on their own mental health and wellbeing and the relationship with their infant. They don’t need to be first-time parents. The baby needs to be in their care.
What to bring
Just yourself and your baby. The whole family (partner and other children) usually come to the first session, which is longer, so we can get to know them. You can bring a support person.
How to access this clinic
Parents are welcome to contact us directly and self-refer.
We welcome referrals from Maternal Child Health nurses, other health professionals and family members.
Have some feedback for us?
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