Specialist services - pregnancy and parenting mental health
There are a range of specialist services that can help you with your health and wellbeing during pregnancy and early parenting. The below list includes specialist perinatal mental health services, as well as self help tools and information.
Support and helpline
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) provides consumer mental health checklists, information during pregnancy, after birth, postnatal psychosis, how is Dad going, Partners and Carers, Support, recovery stories, factsheets and resources as well as Who’s who in perinatal mental health. They provides the national perinatal mental health telephone counselling service, as well information to reduce stigma around perinatal anxiety and depression. Helpline: 1300 726 306 (Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm AEDT)
Alcohol and Drug Support Line can support with free confidential advice and counselling. Helpline: 08 9442 5000 or 1800 198 024 (Country)
Parenting services
Ngala Parenting Service provides support to parents families and communities to enhance the wellbeing and development of children and young people. Offers parenting help line, day stay and extended stay (4 nights) for difficult parenting challenges. Non-government service, low or no cost.
Glengarry Early Parenting Centre provides support through a residential 4 night stay for the parent /primary caregiver and infants aged 6 Weeks to 12 months and is designed to help parents overcome the physical emotional and social challenges a new baby can bring. (Fee for service - check private health insurer for out of pocket expenses)
4families is a free family mental health support service run by Relationships Australia WA for children, from birth to 18 years and their families and carers. It is funded by the Australian Government.
Triple P is a parenting program that gives you tips and ideas to help raise happy and confident kids; see more of the behaviours you like and less of the ones you don’t; and have better relationships with your family. It is available to parents and carers of children in WA, supported by the Department of Education, Child and Adolescent Health Service, WA Country Health Service, and Department of Communities.
Online Support and Treatment – Pregnancy and Parenting
Mum 2B Mood Booster is a free online e-treatment designed to help women anywhere in Australia who are experiencing depression during pregnancy (antenatal depression). (register as study participant)
Mum Mood Booster is designed to help women recover from postnatal depression. Includes:Six on-line sessions that can be personalised to fit the situation, Access to an online library and optional partner support line.
MumSpace supports the mental health and wellbeing of pregnant women, new mums and their families by connecting them to advice and support in the transition to parenthood. Also provides effective online treatment programs for perinatal depression and anxiety.
Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is based at Monash University and offers online support, self-assessment, toolkits, videos and podcasts. Jean Hailes has also developed What Were We Thinking, which focuses on the practical and personal aspects of parenting, this program gives you evidence-based, tried and tested parenting advice from leading Australian experts.
Mind the Bump provides tailored mindfulness exercises to support your mental and emotional wellbeing from day one of pregnancy through to 24 months after birth.
SMS4dads provides fathers with information and connection to online services through text messages to their mobile phones.
Mum Matters is based on screening tools validated by evidence-based research that can help identify if you may be experiencing feelings common in depression. It also suggests steps to help you stay emotionally well, and guides to relevant support and resources.
The Black Dog Institute provides self-help tools and apps, including depression, bipolar and anxiety self-tests, and online programs such as ‘MyCompass’ for anxiety/depression and SHUTi (sleep healthy using the internet).
MoodGym is an interactive self-help book which helps you to learn and practise skills which can help to prevent and manage symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Treatment for mild to moderate conditions
GPs and psychologists (in private practice) can help with treating or supporting you with mild to moderate mental health issues.
Services provided by non-government providers may include support groups, psychology and other supports.
Women’s Health Services in both metropolitan and regional centres provide a range of services including health promotion, information, counselling and clinical support. (You can also visit Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing)
Raphael Services (St John of God Health Care – Not for Profit) supporting parents through emotional challenges of pregnancy and early parenthood. Free or no-out-of-pocket expenses
Pregnancy to Parenthood Edith Cowan University provides a free perinatal and infant mental health service focusing on the wellbeing of caregivers and their infants, young children (up to 2 yrs) and families (from pregnancy). Provisionally registered psychologists under direct supervision of experienced clinical psychologists
PORTS (Practitioner online referral treatment service) provides a virtual mental health service via online or telephone. Free service funded by WA Primary Health Alliance.
Treatment for Acute Conditions (Outpatient services)
Community Mental Health Services, provided by public providers, can provide psychiatric services, mental health consultation and rehabilitation services for an individual’s mental illness. Services provided by the WA Country Health Service can also provide Telepsychiatry.
Private psychiatrists can also provide treatment and support. You will generally need to get a referral from your GP. You can search via the Find a Psychiatrist tool, including narrowing your search by 'mother and baby'.
Treatment for Acute Conditions (Hospital public mental health services – no charge)
The King Edward Memorial Hospital Mother and Baby Unit is 8 bed inpatient unit located within KEMH campus. Provides specialist treatment for mental health issues such as severe depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders in late pregnancy and during the postnatal period. The MBU admits patients from within NMHS, rural and remote. Requires referral from GP or health care professional. Not an emergency service. Women can be admitted as a public or private patient with not out of pocket expenses for Medicare/privately eligible patients.
The King Edward Women and Newborn Drug and Alcohol Service is a tertiary state-wide service providing specialist clinical services and professional support to care for pregnant women with drug and alcohol dependence. They use a multidisciplinary team approach to improve the health and wellbeing of the women and their babies. You can contact the service directly when you discover you are pregnant, or be referred by your GP, health care worker or community service provider.
The Fiona Stanley Hospital Mother and Baby Unit is 8 bed inpatient unit located within FSH Mental Health Unit. Provides specialist treatment for mental health issues such as severe depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders in late pregnancy and during the postnatal period. The MBU admits patients from within SMHS, rural and remote. Requires referral from GP or health care professional. Not an emergency service. Women can be admitted as a public or private patient with no out of pocket expenses for Medicare/privately eligible patients.
This page has been developed thanks to the expertise and support of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Sub Network.