Presentation Information
[O-11-04]Integrating perinatal and infant mental healthcare: building lifelong foundations- What are we doing at Austin Health Perinatal Community Services, Heidelberg, Melbourne
*Hewa Liyana Arachchi Chamali Rangika Wanigasekera1,2, Anne Buist1,2, Michelle McAlary McAlary1 (1.Austin Health, Melbourne , Australia(Australia), 2.University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia(Australia))
Keywords:
Perintal Psychiatry,Women and Children,prevention and early intervention
Chamali Wanigasekera1,2 MBBS,AMC,MPsych,FRANZCP
Anne Buist1,2 MBBS,MMed,MD,FRANZCP
Michelle McAlary1 BN GCPN RN
1. Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
2. University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Email: Chamali.WANIGASEKERA@austin.org.au; a.buist@unimelb.edu.au; Michelle.MCALARY@austin.org.au
Background: Mental illness during the perinatal period is a common public health issue. Despite high rates of mental illness, the healthcare systems worldwide struggle to provide basic care needs and services during the perinatal period are frequently poorly integrated. Research emphasizes the significance of integrating mental health care into perinatal services, addressing immediate mental health needs while supporting positive long-term developmental outcomes for children.
Objectives: To provide an integrated service to strengthen parent-infant relationships through evidence-based practices.
Description: Austin Health Perinatal Community Service (PCS) offers specialist mental health support through psychological therapies and parent-infant relationship framework for caregivers with a mental health problem who have a child under 24-months in North-East areas of Melbourne. Utilising both outreach and clinic-based services, we deliver psychological and parent-infant relational interventions (including Circle of Security) through our multidisciplinary team of psychiatrist, psychologist, social work and maternal child health nurses.
Conclusions: Supporting the caregiver’s mental health and the parent-infant relationship is crucial for child development. Early intervention leads to better outcomes for children and society. This talk will cover our experiences implementing this model at Austin Health and our proposed outcomes research.
Anne Buist1,2 MBBS,MMed,MD,FRANZCP
Michelle McAlary1 BN GCPN RN
1. Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
2. University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Email: Chamali.WANIGASEKERA@austin.org.au; a.buist@unimelb.edu.au; Michelle.MCALARY@austin.org.au
Background: Mental illness during the perinatal period is a common public health issue. Despite high rates of mental illness, the healthcare systems worldwide struggle to provide basic care needs and services during the perinatal period are frequently poorly integrated. Research emphasizes the significance of integrating mental health care into perinatal services, addressing immediate mental health needs while supporting positive long-term developmental outcomes for children.
Objectives: To provide an integrated service to strengthen parent-infant relationships through evidence-based practices.
Description: Austin Health Perinatal Community Service (PCS) offers specialist mental health support through psychological therapies and parent-infant relationship framework for caregivers with a mental health problem who have a child under 24-months in North-East areas of Melbourne. Utilising both outreach and clinic-based services, we deliver psychological and parent-infant relational interventions (including Circle of Security) through our multidisciplinary team of psychiatrist, psychologist, social work and maternal child health nurses.
Conclusions: Supporting the caregiver’s mental health and the parent-infant relationship is crucial for child development. Early intervention leads to better outcomes for children and society. This talk will cover our experiences implementing this model at Austin Health and our proposed outcomes research.