Mothers receiving psychiatric care will be able to keep their children close by when a Parent Infant Unit opens at Bendigo’s new hospital in February.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bendigo Health stakeholder directions director Peter Robinson said children up to the age of one would be accommodated during their parents’ treatment.
“It’s about enhancing and promoting parent-infant attachment,” Mr Robertson said.
It will be the sole 24-hour unit of its kind in regional Australia, with other facilities only offering daytime care for both mothers and babies.
Patients will have diagnoses of anxiety, depression and Bipolar Affective Disorder, among other psychiatric disorders, Mr Robertson said.
Drug and alcohol dependent mothers are also expected to be among those admitted to the unit.
Until now, parents and children in regional areas seeking this type of specialised mental health care have had to be admitted into metropolitan hospitals, isolated from support networks in their hometown.
Mr Robertson said integrating postnatal and infant mental health care would result in better outcomes for both parents and their children.
“What we know is that if the parent has a mental illness, that also affects the mental health of the infant,” he said.
“It is important you treat the mother as part of the family unit.”
Early intervention was the central theme at a forum for health professionals in Junourton on Tuesday.
Health care workers from across the Loddon Mallee district heard from experts about the parent and infant mental health, as well as ways to engage adolescent parents in pregnancy and early parenthood.
Those in attendance were also introduced to new unit’s model of care.
“There is always a keen interest and people wanting to know more about parent and infant mental health,” Mr Robertson said.
“The forum is a very strong networking day allowing people to share their resources and knowledge.
“Following the forum we receive plenty of positive feedback about the fantastic networking opportunities the event provides.”