Maternal Mental Health

Purpose of the service

To provide comprehensive assessment, short-term intervention and co-ordination services for women who are experiencing biopsychosocial difficulties during the perinatal period at the earliest opportunity.

Area of service

The service covers most of the Waikato District Health Board region, with the exception of: Hauraki Plains, Paeroa, Thames, Waihi and the Coromandel coast.

Service objectives

The Early Intervention Maternal Mental Health Service:

• is recovery focused
• is fully integrated and involved with primary health care providers and community agencies
• does not treat women, babies and families/whānau in isolation
• employs a wrap-around approach of co-opting the most appropriate healthcare provider or community agency when needed.
  

Key components of the service

• Assessment, short-term intervention and service co-ordination
• Consultation and liaison for all aspects relating to maternal mental health
• Provision of education and training
• Individual and group interventions
• Information and Resource centre
  

Maternal mental health personnel

• Service co-ordinator whose focus is on the ongoing development and clinical co-ordination of the service, as well as being involved in service delivery
  
  
• Community mental health nurses whose focus is assessment, short term intervention,  service co-ordination and development of various groups in both urban and rural areas
  
  
• Social worker who is involved with assessment and in addressing social needs of  women,  babies and families/whānau

Who do we see?

• Women experiencing biopsychosocial difficulties in the perinatal period (conception through to 12 months post partum) including perinatal mood disorder, perinatal anxiety, grief, loss and/or birth trauma
  
  
• We do not accept referrals for women who have a psychotic illness, personality disorder and/or substance abuse issues or whose needs are more urgent and/or acute

Referral process

Referrals/requests for assessment

Referrals are welcome from all health care providers. Self referrals are accepted too.

Assessment location

Assessments and visits are held in clients’ homes, at our base, at Plunket rooms and other negotiated venues.

Assessment outcomes

Clients will either:

• continue to see us for ongoing follow-up
• be referred back to the referrer or main health care provider
• be referred onto other more appropriate agencies
• be referred onto other specialist services.

Location of service

The Maternal Mental Health Service is based in 193 London Street, Hamilton.

Contact details

Service Location: 193 London Street, Hamilton

Phone: (07) 834 6902
Fax: (07) 834 6900

Hours of service

Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5pm

Non urgent out of hours messages may be left on our answer phone.

This is a Non Urgent/Crisis Service

All urgent calls/requests for service need to go to Crisis, Assessment and Treatment Service on 0800 50 50 50

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