Referring to a perinatal psychiatrist

We welcome referrals from obstetricians who may be concerned about the psychiatric well-being of perinatal patients, or who have queries about medication in pregnancy. We provide secondary consultation to general adult psychiatrists who are treating longstanding patients during the perinatal period. We see patients referred by psychologists (via a GP or obstetrician referral) for medication assessments and reviews or for ongoing psychotherapy (depending on the needs of the patient).

For GPs

When to refer to a perinatal psychiatrist

• Difficult medication issues
• Patient is wanting lengthy explanations about medication 
• Previous puerperal psychosis
• Bipolar disorder (current or past) 
• Previous non-perinatal psychiatric history
• Strong family history of psychiatric conditions
• Previous postnatal depression (for which medication was prescribed)
• Severe sleep disturbance in pregnancy or postnatal period
• Difficulties with sleep, feed and settling routines
• Current or potential parent-infant relationship difficulties (poor attachment)
• Marked changes in mood, thoughts, perceptions or behaviour during conception, pregnancy, postnatal period
• Patient is having suicidal thoughts or has attempted suicide in the past

Referring to our Psychiatrists

Please select the Psychiatrist to whom you are referring your patient, and find contact details on their profile page.

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General Information

Click on the links below for information about assessment and referral pathways:

• Decision making about management of perinatal patients (Centre of Perinatal Excellence: COPE)
• ​Assessing suicide risk​ (COPE)
• Best practice guidelines for referral (Royal Australia & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists: RANZCP)
• ​Information for patients (RANZCP)
• Perinatal mental health: Identifying problems and managing medications. Australian Family Physician, Volume 43, No.4, April 2014 Pages 182-185.
  

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Psychiatric mother-baby services

Public
Mercy Health - Mother Baby Unit (Weribbee)
Monash Mother-Baby Unit (Clayton)
Austin Hospital Parent Infant Inpatient Program (Heidelberg)

Private
​Mitcham Private Hospital Mother-Baby Unit 
​Northpark Private Hospital Mother-Baby Unit (Bundoora)

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Perinatal mental health services (non-psychiatric)

Mercy Health - O'Connell Family Centre - Residential program (Canterbury)
Queen Elizabeth Centre - Day stay (Noble Park)
Queen Elizabeth Centre - Residential program (Noble Park)
Tweddle Child & Family Health Service (Footscray)
Masada Mother-Baby Unit (East St Kilda)
​Mornington Peninsula Services 

Phone support and information for patients

PANDA   1300 726 306
​Lifeline   13 11 14
Suicide Helpline   1300 651 251
Parentline   13 22 89
Kids Helpline   1800 551 800
Maternal & Child Helpline   13 22 29
Pregnancy Birth and Baby Helpline 1800 882 436
National Breastfeeding Helpline   1800 686 686
Mensline Australia  1300 789 978

www.cope.org.au
www.panda.org.au
www.thewomens.org.au
www.beyondblue.org.au
www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
www.sane.org
www.depressionnet.org.au
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