Perinatal mental health services & resources
A list of perinatal mental health services - helplines, online courses and also mother baby inpatient services in Melbourne.
Please feel free to contact me if you know of any more services that should be included.
If in crisis
Emergency Assistance
Triple zero – (000) If you feel that immediate help is needed, call 000 or go to your nearest hospital Emergency Department.
CATT - Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team
A CATT responds to urgent requests to help people in mental health crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A CATT is a group of people who work together and includes mental health professionals such as psychiatric nurses, social workers, psychiatrists and psychologists, they are based in major hospitals.
To find your local CATT team, ring your closest major public hospital or go here for mental health services in your area, or call NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24
Suicide Call Back Service
Provides 24 hour crisis counselling to people at risk of suicide, carers for someone who is suicidal and those bereaved by suicide.
www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
1300 659 467
Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
24-hour crisis and suicide prevention support.
Beyondblue 1300 22 4636
24 hour information and support to achieve best possible mental health.
Family Violence
1800 RESPECT
Information, counselling and support service for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse.
Perinatal mental health support
Head to Health – Provides a website gateway to help you to find digital online mental health resources and trusted information.
COPE Centre of Perinatal Excellence
A not-for-profit organisation devoted to reducing the impacts of emotional and mental health problems in the pre and postnatal periods. This website has a directory of practitioners that support perinatal mental health.
Men’s Line 1300 726 306
24-hour professional telephone support, online support and information for men.
Perinatal mental health support
PANDA: National Perinatal Anxiety and Depression helpline 1300 726 306
Support and information on managing anxiety and depression before and after a baby is born.
MumMoodBooster
6 online sessions designed to help women recover from postnatal depression
This Way Up – Pregnancy & Postnatal mental health programs
https://thiswayup.org.au/programs/perinatal-mental-health-programs
Baby Steps course – a free online program that aims to enhance the wellbeing of new mums and dads
Mind Mum App
Designed to assist expectant and new mothers with the emotional challenges that this time of life often brings
Grief and loss from miscarriage, stillbirth and death in infancy
SANDS
Miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death support
The Pink Elephants Support Network
Support for women experiencing miscarriage and pregnancy loss.
https://www.pinkelephants.org.au/
Red Nose
Information on safe sleeping, safe pregnancy and grief/loss support for parents and families
Bears of Hope
Support for families who experience loss of their baby - pregnancy and infant loss
https://www.bearsofhope.org.au
Birth trauma
Australasian Birth Trauma Association
A national charity committed to reducing the incidence and impact of birth-related trauma whilst supporting affected women, families and health professionals.
https://www.birthtrauma.org.au
Counselling & relationships
Relationships Australia
Relationship support services for individuals, families and communities
1300 364 277
https://www.relationships.org.au
Men’s Line 1300 726 306
24-hour professional telephone support, online support and information for men.
Perinatal psychologists
Consultations are now widely available by telehealth so there is a wider pool of perinatal psychologists Australia wide who may have availability. Try an online search with the keywords "perinatal psychologist".
The following resources may also be useful:
https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au/ (offers bulk billed services)
https://www.mumsmatterpsychology.com/ (offers bulk billed services)
https://www.antenatalandpostnatalpsychology.com.au/
https://www.cope.org.au/ (online resources and directory of relevant practitioners)
https://www.centreforperinatalpsychology.com.au/
Mother & baby mental health services - Melbourne (VIC)
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/mental-health-services/mother-and-baby-mental-health-services
Specialist mother and baby units can provide a residential environment for assessment and support for mental health issues in the postnatal period.
PUBLIC Mother and baby units are located at:
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Austin Health – Austin Hospital 1300 859 789
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Monash Medical Centre - 03 9594 1414
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Werribee Mercy Hospital - 1300 657 259
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Latrobe Regional Hospital
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Ballarat Health Service (from late 2015)
All specialist mental health perinatal services can be accessed via their centralised access triage number.
PRIVATE Mother and baby units are located at:
Mitcham Private Hospital
Northpark Private Hospital
Sunshine Private Hospital
Patients will need a health professional referral.
Early Parenting Centres
Early Parenting Centre services are currently provided by:
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Mercy O’Connell Family Centre located in Canterbury
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Queen Elizabeth Centre located in Noble Park
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phone 03 9549 2777
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Tweddle Child and Family Health Service located in Footscray and Werribee
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phone (03) 9689 1577
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