Perinatal Mental Health - Cairns

Perinatal Mental Health is a component of the Cairns & Hinterland Mental Health Service and provides a specialist service to perinatal women (ie: planning pregnancy, pregnant or new mother). At present the Cairns team comprises 1 fulltime Clinical Nurse Consultant, which has been funded to June 2013 via the National Perinatal Depression Initiative (NPDI). In addition to this, clinical staff from the Consultation Liaison Team support the weekly Perinatal Mental Health Clinic held at the Cairns Base Hospital Antenatal Clinic. The NPDI has distributed funding to ATAPS (Access to Allied Psychological Services). This enables GPs to make referrals directly to allied health professionals who deliver focussed psychological strategies to better support women with perinatal depression.

Catchment Area

Perinatal Mental Health covers the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service and, when requested, liaises with services in the Cape York and Northern Peninsula-Torres Strait Hospital and Health Services. In practical terms, Perinatal Mental Health can only provide scheduled face-to-face clinic appointments in suburban Cairns, and telephone consults for those who live/work further afield. Face-to-face Perinatal Mental Health Workshops are regularly delivered in Cairns, Innisfail, Tully, Atherton and Mareeba.

Referral Criteria

• perinatal women (ie: planning pregnancy, pregnant, new mothers)
• sub-acute mental health symptoms or risk of developing symptoms
• agrees to referral
• outpatient

Resources

Visit the Perinatal Mental Health Resources page for a list of available resources and useful links for health professionals and clients

Referral Pathway and Intake Workflow

Perinatal Mental Health provides collaborative care, telephone triage and information, weekly outpatient clinic appointments, and delivery of health promotion and education sessions. Click here for a printable version.