Maternal Mental Health Service

• Maternal Mental Health is a small, specialist tertiary mental health team
• The team provides a service to women who:
• are pregnant or have a baby under 12 months of age
• have developed a severe mental health illness related to:
• the experience of pregnancy, childbirth 
• and/or the adjustment to motherhood

• Referrals are directed in the first instance to the woman's local community mental health team for triage/assessment
• Maternal Mental Health accepts referrals from other secondary mental health services including:
• community mental health teams
• psychiatric liaison services
• psychiatrists in private practice
• other maternal mental health teams

Women with existing mental illness

• Pregnant women who have bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia or a past history of psychosis, who are currently well can be referred directly to the team
• A plan will be developed in conjunction with the woman aimed at supporting their well being during the period of birth and the postpartum period
• A pre-conception assessment is offered to women with severe mental illness (e.g. bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia) who are planning to have a baby

GP consultation

• A phone consultation service is provided to GPs
• The Maternal Mental Health specialist doctors can advise on medications used during pregnancy
• In particular with women who are in their first trimester and with women who are breastfeeding

Locations

• North Shore Hospital
  Ph (09) 488 4634
  Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm
  Duty Clinician available for urgent calls: Ph (09) 488 4634 
  After hours and weekends please contact the mental health acute/crisis team via North Shore Hospital Ph (09) 486 1491
  Women can be assessed and seen at venues convenient to them e.g. WDHB facilities, home, community setting

• Waitakere Hospital
  Child Health Unit
  Ph (09) 488 4634
  Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm
  Duty Clinician available for urgent calls: Ph (09) 488 4634
  After hours and weekends please contact the mental health acute/crisis team via North Shore Hospital Ph (09) 486 1491
  Women can be assessed and seen at venues convenient to them e.g. WDHB facilities, home, community setting