Perinatal Mental Health Service
The Perinatal Mental Health Service is available to women who receive maternity care at Western Health at both Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Bacchus Marsh Hospital. We provide assessment, management, ongoing psychological intervention and group parenting programs for women in the perinatal period, up to 6 months postnatally, who present with varying psychiatric and psychological challenges including but not limited to:
- Significant emotional distress around pregnancy, birth and postnatal care
- Antenatal and/or Postnatal Depression
- Anxiety (including panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder)
- Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Postpartum Psychosis
- Personality Disorder
- Adjustment to parenthood
- Psychological preparation and support for perinatal medical procedures
- Pregnancy related grief and loss
- Suicidal thoughts and/or risk of harm to self/others
Referrals are only accepted internally and patients can speak to their midwife or obstetrician about being referred.
Some helpful web links for mothers, fathers and families.
Joan Kirner:
Ph: 8345 0692
Fax: 8345 4053
Bacchus Marsh:
Ph: 5367 9165
Fax: 5367 8223