Perinatal mental health — mental health during pregnancy and in the first year following birth — affects approximately 1 in 5 new mothers and 1 in 10 new fathers in Australia. Postnatal depression, perinatal anxiety, birth trauma, and infant mental health challenges are common, often undetected, and profoundly affect the whole family. Early identification and support prevents long-term harm to parent and child. Grant funding supports screening, treatment, peer support, and the community services that reach parents at their most vulnerable.
Scale
Conditions
Barriers to help
National Perinatal Mental Health Guideline
Evidence-based guidelines for screening and management in primary care.
Better Access to Mental Health Care
Medicare rebates for psychological treatment including perinatal mental health.
Pregnancy and newborn health
State maternity services include some mental health screening (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale widely used).
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia)
National helpline for perinatal mental health — government-funded through DSS.
Mental Health Australia
Advocacy and policy on perinatal mental health at national level.
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia)
The peak body for perinatal mental health:
- National helpline — free confidential support
- Professional training for GPs, midwives, maternal health nurses
- Public awareness campaigns
- Peer support programmes
Gidget Foundation Australia
Dedicated perinatal mental health organisation:
- Start Talking (telehealth for perinatal mental health)
- Clinical consultations
- Professional education
Miracle Babies Foundation
Support for families with premature or sick newborns (significant mental health component).
SANDS Australia
Support after stillbirth and neonatal death — grief and perinatal loss.
Bears of Hope
Pregnancy and infant loss support.
Philanthropy Australia members
Several family and health foundations fund perinatal mental health.
Screening and early identification
Telephone and digital support
Peer support
Clinical treatment
Infant mental health
Paternal perinatal mental health
Often overlooked:
- Father-focused programmes (PANDA, Gidget)
- Peer support for new fathers
- Workplace support for new fathers
Perinatal grief and loss
CALD communities
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perinatal health
Workforce development
The period from conception to age 2 — the first 1,000 days — is the most sensitive period for brain development. Parental mental health during this period directly affects infant development:
Investments in perinatal mental health pay dividends across the child's developmental trajectory.
Universal screening
Universal perinatal mental health screening (not just postnatal) is evidence-based. Applications supporting routine screening in all antenatal and postnatal contacts are foundational.
Workforce gap
Australia has a critical shortage of perinatal mental health specialists. Applications building workforce capacity — training GPs, midwives, nurses — have broad impact.
Telehealth for access
Rural and remote parents have limited access to face-to-face perinatal mental health care. Applications delivering telehealth services extend reach to underserved populations.
Fathers and partners
Paternal perinatal mental health is significantly underfunded relative to need. Applications specifically addressing fathers and partners address a genuine gap.
Tahua's grants management platform supports perinatal mental health funders and parent support organisations — with programme participant tracking, recovery outcome measurement, service reach data, and the reporting tools that help perinatal mental health funders demonstrate their investment in the mental health of new parents and their babies.