Perinatal and infant mental health consultation

Empower families to support themselves.

Routine antenatal education co-delivered by peers and trained midwife educators, focused on the common emotional transition to parenthood across the continuum, and also including: - awareness raising about PMI and infant mental health, - non-clinical and non-judgmental support strategies for parents themselves/partners/family/other people - how to access appropriate parenting and community supports, and clinical supports when appropriate - promotion of peer support groups facilitated by trained peers who then perform a community navigator role

dedicated Alcohol and drug support for ante and post natal women for cessation and support . Pharmaceutical support and education for GPs to prescribe to women

Action: Alert support systems to the existence of each other and allow collaboration to tie services together

(i.e. Support service directory)

Action: Employ Peer Navigators to support people to access perinatal and infant mental health services and networks

Action: Develop a health pathway for perinatal and infant mental health.

Map client journey – points of referral and red flags across: • Perinatal mental health • Child health • Infant mental health • Peer support • Support for women about reproductive and sexual health choices • GPs

Action: Build a rich understanding of services, play groups, nannies to support families in a holistic way

Action: Services partner with each other in meaningful ways to improve referral pathways

Action: Perinatal information site for pregnant women and new families about all services in Brisbane North Region:

• PHN invite Perinatal providers to share access information (i.e. contact, what they do, who they help) • Publish on PHN website

Action: Tailor services to what families need

(i.e. home visits, location, close to public transport)

Action: Include fathers in support groups

Postnatal ‘mothers groups’ are redeveloped to be ‘parents groups’. Increased support for fathers can have a decrease in family violence

Action: New parent education through a range of modalities (i.e. online, face-to-face)

• Building support • Increasing mental health literacy • Building resilience • Knowing what, where and how • Increasing parenting confidence and skills (i.e. co-security and infant message)

Action: Expectant parents education

• Universal antenatal • Pre-conception education (i.e. collaboration with Education Department)

Action: Workforce development for GP Practices and Nurses

• Incentivised screening and referral