About perinatal mental health
The perinatal period is the time from pregnancy to the first year after the baby is born. Research shows between 10-16 percent of women will experience anxiety or depression during their pregnancy and in the months after the baby is born.
Coping with the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy, childbirth and parenting, lack of supports and experiencing difficult times are risk factors for developing anxiety and or depression in the perinatal period.
It is important to look after your mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy as much as your physical health, especially if you have previously experienced a mental health problem and fear a relapse will occur during this time.
As soon as you know you are pregnant, please discuss with your GP (General Practitioner) any past or current mental health concerns so the right supports can commence for you.
Learn more about mental wellbeing during pregnancy
NSW Perinatal Infant Mental Health Services (PIMHS)
The NSW PIMHS is a free, statewide mental health service supporting mums, dads, parents, babies and families, including LGBTIQ families, with a range of diagnosed, severe or complex perinatal mental health disorders.
Learn more about the Perinatal Infant Mental Health Services (PIMHS).
Perinatal Mental Health Service
Our Perinatal Mental Health Service (PMHS) helps support the mental health and wellbeing of women during the perinatal (during pregnancy) period.
We offer both inpatient and outpatient support for pregnant women and new mothers with physical, emotional and social concerns. Our team works closely with:
- your GP (General Practitioner)
- midwives
- obstetricians
- social workers
- drug and alcohol workers
- multicultural health maternity liaison officers
- Aboriginal maternal and infant health
- child and family health nurses.
In this section, you can learn about the services PMHS provide.
You can also read the factsheet 'Caring for your feelings during pregnancy and after birth (PDF 1.12MB)' for more information.
This is a 24-hour inpatient service for women admitted to the hospital or who present to the Emergency Department and need help with a current or past mental health concern.
This inpatient service is staffed by:
- psychiatrists
- psychiatry registrars (specialist hospital doctor)
- clinical nurse consultants in mental health
- a clinical psychologist.
Please speak to your midwife or doctor if you have mental health concerns and would like to access this service.
This is a small specialist service for inpatients and outpatients. It provides care for pregnant women and for post-pregnancy women up to 6 to 8 weeks after birth.
The service helps you plan and manage your mental health needs, including:
- a perinatal mental health assessment and consultation
- guidelines for anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medication use in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- support for women as they move from hospital care to community health services.
If you think you need mental health support, speak to your GP, obstetrician, specialist or midwife to plan ongoing support and referral to services.
The perinatal psychiatry team is available Monday to Friday, between 9am and 4:30pm (excluding public holidays).
The NSW Health Safe Start program (Safe Start) helps recognise and start early intervention supports for women during pregnancy (perinatal period) for any physical, emotional, mental and social concerns.
Safe Start is available from the start of your pregnancy and can continue after you go home with your baby. It provides ongoing coordinated supports from:
- midwives
- social workers
- Perinatal Mental Health Services
- drug and alcohol in pregnancy services
- child and family health nurses
- community health general practice liaison nurse
- Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Services.
How to access the program
- We will ask you a set of questions when you book into the hospital for pregnancy services.
- Your answers will help us provide the right maternity care for you.
- You will only be referred to Safe Start if you agree to the referral. It can be made at any time during pregnancy or after you give birth.
- If you are on the Safe Start program, you will also receive early support from Child and Family Health.
To learn more talk read the Safe Start factsheet (PDF 453.47KB) or talk with your midwife or doctor.
Referral pathways for health professionals
Health professionals can use this summary to help refer patients to perinatal mental health services.
| Service | Referral details |
|---|---|
| Safe Start mental health clinic | Services include antenatal care, mental health services and allied health. Refer women with:
How to refer:
|
| St John of God - Raphael Services - Perinatal Mental Health Support | Provides health and community services across Australia and New Zealand. Health professionals can find information on treatment and services and how to make a referral. |
| Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services (PIMHS) | Community mental health service for women with severe mental illness. Refer women with mental illness that:
How to refer:
|
| Acute Care Team (ACT) | Community health team seeing consumers experiencing acute mental health illness. Refer people experiencing acute mental illness in the community with or without:
How to refer:
Note: The ACT can refer to the Emotional Health Clinic and Research Unit and Cumberland Gold Card Clinic. Both provide helpful intervention for people with emotional regulation issues and personality traits. |
| Consultation and Liaison Psychiatry (CLP) | 24-hour inpatient service for women admitted to the hospital or who present to the Emergency Department and need help with a current or past mental health concern. Refer women at Westmead and Blacktown hospitals:
How to refer:
Note:
|
| Perinatal Psychiatry Consultation and Liaison (PPCL) | This service is only available at Westmead Hospital. Refer women with mental health concerns or illness who are currently admitted patients in a non-mental health inpatient ward. You can refer via:
|
| Service | Referral details |
|---|---|
| ForWhen | Helpline and service for perinatal depression and anxiety. Guides and connects new and expecting parents to perinatal mental health support. Refer women with mental health concerns or illness. How to refer:
|
| KEYS Network | A virtual hub for service providers working with families and young children in Western Sydney and Lithgow. |
Helpful resources
Find helpful resources and links for perinatal mental health and overall mental health.
- Perinatal mental health screening in Australia
- If you have postpartum depression
- Perinatal, Child and Youth Mental Health Service
- Take an online perinatal test using the Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale
- MotherSafe - free telephone counselling service for women
- Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) - supports parents and families' mental health during pregnancy and their first year of parenthood
- Relationships Australia (NSW) - online and in-person support for individuals, couples, families and communities
- Baby blues - mood swings and feelings that can occur in the first week after your baby is born.
- Fathers and depression
- Anxiety and pregnancy
- Getting help for postnatal mental health conditions
- Pregnancy and postnatal mental health online programs
- Postnatal factsheets for women and their families
- Antenatal and postnatal depression
- Find a psychologist - Australian Psychological Society
- Beyond Blue - find a counsellor, get a mental health coach, or connect with others online
- Black Dog Institute - find mental health resources and support tools
- Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI)
- Lifeline - support for all Australians experiencing emotional distress
- SANE - leading national mental health organisation for people with complex mental health issues
- Suicide Call Back Service - free national service with 24/7 phone and online counselling
- St John of God Raphael Centre Blacktown
- Wayahead - Mental Health Association in NSW
- Headspace - support for family
- MensLine Australia - free telephone and online counselling for men
- Embrace Multicultural Mental Health - resources, links to services and translated information on mental health
Contact us
To make a referral to our community health centres call the Central Referral Service on 1800 600 681 between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Auburn Community Health Centre
Business hours: 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Address: Norval Street, Auburn NSW 2144
Phone: 02 8759 4000
Email: WSLHD-ACHC-Admin@health.nsw.gov.au
Blacktown Community Health Centre
Business hours: 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 4.30pm, Saturday
Address: 1 Marcel Cres, Blacktown NSW 2148
Phone: 02 9881 8700
Email: WSLHD-BCHC-Admin@health.nsw.gov.au
Dundas Community Health Centre
Address: 21 Sturt St, Telopea NSW 2117
Phone: 02 9638 6511
The Hills Community Health Centre
Business hours: 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Address: 183-187 Excelsior Ave, Castle Hill NSW 2154
Phone: 02 8853 4500
Email: WSLHD-THCHC-Admin@health.nsw.gov.au
Merrylands Community Health Centre
Business hours: 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Address: 14 Memorial Ave, Merrylands NSW 2160
Phone: 02 9860 9800
Email: WSLHD-MLCHC-Admin@health.nsw.gov.au
Paramatta Community Health Centre
Business hours: 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Address: Ground Floor/162 Marsden St, Parramatta NSW 2150
Phone: 02 9843 3222
Contact Western Sydney LHD
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For general enquiries, complete our online enquiry form.