Ngala Parenting Line is a free, confidential and non-judgemental telephone support service for parents and carers of children aged 0 to 18 years. Staffed by qualified child health nurses and midwives.

Call (08) 9368 9368

Available: 8am to 8pm (daily)

ForWhen provides guidance to new and expecting parents to perinatal and infant mental health supports. 

Call 1300 24 23 22

Available: 9am to 4.30pm (Mon-Fri)

Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) provides consumer mental health checklists, information for during pregnancy, after birth, postnatal psychosis, help for new fathers, partners and carers, recovery stories, fact sheets and resources, as well as who’s who in perinatal mental health. PANDA provides the national perinatal mental health telephone counselling service, as well information to reduce stigma around perinatal anxiety and depression. 

Call 1300 726 306

Available: 10am to 5pm AEDT (Mon-Fri)

See more helplines

GPs and psychologists (in private practice) can help with treating or supporting you with mild to moderate mental health issues.

The King Edward Memorial Hospital Women’s Health Services in metropolitan and regional centres provide a range of services including health promotion, information, counselling and clinical support. 

The following women’s health non-government organisations can provide a range of services, include counselling and group supports for perinatal mental health and wellbeing in addition to parenting support and information:

• Erica Centre - Midland
• Fremantle Women's Health Centre
• Luma
• South Coastal Health and Community Services
• Women's Health and Wellbeing – Gosnells.

Uniting WA provide two programs to support parents:

• the Attach program which includes counselling for parents who are concern about their drug and alcohol use and is available to anyone with a child under 12 years old
• the Parenting Under Pressure program service provides in-home counselling services to parents over a three to six-month period.

Radiance Network South West provide group and peer support for perinatal mothers in Busselton, Bunbury, Margeret River and Collie. 

• Mother Baby Nurture Program – A 10-week group program for mothers and their infants aged 0 to 6 months, providing evidence-based support for perinatal mental health, parent-infant relationships and early childhood development.

Ngala provides support services for parents, carers, families and communities to enhance the wellbeing and development of children and young people aged 0 to 18 years, including:

• Residential Parenting Service – A free, publicly funded residential service offering mental health intervention and prevention support for families experiencing challenges that affect parenting capacity and family wellbeing. The service provides extended stays of up to three nights and day-stay options, with a total of 23 beds available.
• Mother Baby Nurture Program – A 10-week group program for mothers and their infants aged 0 to 6 months, providing evidence-based support for perinatal mental health, parent-infant relationships and early childhood development.

The King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) Mother and Baby Unit provides free (for Medicare Card holders) specialist treatment for mental health issues such as severe depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders in late pregnancy and during the postnatal period. The Mother Baby Unit admits women who have birthed at KEMH, women living within the North Metropolitan Health Service catchment area, and women living in rural and remote WA. Women are first advised to discuss their mental health concerns with their GP or health care professional, who can then refer them to the Mother and Baby Unit referral form if necessary.

The King Edward Women and Newborn Drug and Alcohol Service (WANDAS) is a free tertiary state-wide outpatient 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. WANDAS supports women who have birthed at KEMH, women living within the North Metropolitan Health Service catchment area, and women living in rural and remote WA. Women are first advised to discuss their mental health concerns with their GP or health care professional, who can then refer them using the KEMH Antenatal Referral Form. For urgent referrals, please contact the WANDAS Midwife via WANDAS Service mobile on 0414 892 753.

The Fiona Stanley Hospital Mother and Baby Unit provides specialist treatment for mental health issues such as severe depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders in late pregnancy and during the postnatal period. The unit admits women living within the South Metropolitan Health Service area, as well as rural and remote Western Australia. External referrals will also be considered. Women can choose to be admitted as a public or private patient, with no out-of-pocket costs for Medicare/ privately eligible patients.