New and expectant parents in South West Western Australia will soon have access to free mental health care with a Perinatal Mental Health Centre to be established in Bunbury.
Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, Emma McBride MP, made the announcement in Bunbury today.
The Bunbury Perinatal Mental Health Centre is funded by the Australian Government and will be operated by Gidget Foundation Australia.
The centre will offer free psychological support for new and expectant parents throughout the perinatal period.
Parents with a GP referral and mental health care plan will be provided free in-person or digital tele-health services with a psychologist.
The Australian Government is providing $39.2 million to establish a network of 20 Perinatal Mental Health Centres across the country, ensuring all new mums and dads can access support if they experience depression or anxiety.
Almost 100,000 Australians are estimated to experience mental health challenges during the perinatal period each year.
The new centre is expected to provide mental health support to approximately 780 parents each year.
Gidget Foundation Australia operates Perinatal Mental Health Centres, also known as Gidget Houses, in Joondalup and Harrisdale, which are funded through Medicare.
For more information, visit https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au/support/gidget-house
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McBride:
“The Albanese Labor Government is delivering more mental health services in the heart of communities, backed by Medicare.
“1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men experience anxiety or depression when they are expecting or have just become new parents and accessing support can be difficult.
“The Devonport Perinatal Mental Health Centre will give parents in Bunbury and the surrounding region a welcoming place to access free mental health support and care.
Quotes attributable to Ellie Whitecker, Senator for Western Australia:
"Becoming a parent is one of the biggest moments of your life, and for too many mums and dads, it comes with real mental health challenges they didn't expect.
“With this new Perinatal Mental Health Centre in Bunbury, parents will be able to access free mental health support from Gidget Foundation, close to home."