Perinatal Mental Health

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The Perinatal Mental Health service is one of the speciality services within the Mental Health and Addictions Service at Waikato District Health Board. The team includes:

psychiatrists
nurses
clinical psychologist
social worker
occupational therapist
kaitakawaenga (cultural advisor).

Entry criteria

Women who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health illness in pregnancy and postpartum (up to 12 months).

Significant maternal distress related to second trimester termination, birth trauma and / or a still born loss.

In addition the service will see women wanting pre conception counselling who have met any of the above criteria.

Provide a consultative service to women who are current clients of:

Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS)
Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS)
Intellectual Dual Diagnosis Services (IDD)
Infant, Child and Adolescent Services (ICAMHS).

Area of coverage

A level of service is provided throughout the Waikato District Health Board.

What the service provides

Engagement of the mother, infant and family.
Specialist assessment (including risk assessment, and cultural assessment where appropriate), diagnosis and intervention with specific attention to the mother/infant relationship, for up to 12 months post partum.
Screening of the mental health of the infant and appropriate referrals to address any problems identified.
Assessment of family functioning and the impact of this on the mother/infant relationship.
Cultural supports as identified in the cultural assessment.
Relapse prevention and promotion of mental health wellbeing with a recovery focus.
Phone consultation.

Referral process

Referrals are accepted from a variety of sources including:

general practitioner's (GP's)
midwives
obstetricians

All referrals to the service will be triaged. Once accepted into the service, the referral will be allocated at the next referral meeting and an initial appointment will be sent out.

(Clients' may wait two - three weeks to be seen).

Referrals for Kaupapa Maori Maternal Mental Health Services for clients within Hamilton, Ngaruawahia and Huntly can be sent directly to:

Hauora Waikato via Ngaa Ringa Awhina
PO Box 1047
Waikato Mail Centre
Hamilton 3240
Phone: 0800 999 903 or (07) 839 5146 Fax: (07) 839 5147.

Appointments

Appointments are undertaken at 193 London Street, Hamilton, at the clients' home, at a Plunket, Midwife or general practitioner clinic or at another mutually agreed venue.

New appointments can take up to one to two hours; follow up appointments 30 minutes to one hour.

Women are welcome to bring their babies, other family/whanau members and other support people as desired.

Contact details:

Perinatal Mental Health Service 193 London Street PO Box 1372 Hamilton 3240
Phone: (07) 834 6902 Fax: (07) 834 6900

We do not provide an urgent / crisis service and if the situation is urgent, please contact:

Crisis Assessment Team 0800 50 50 50