Service Title:

Counties Manukau District Health Board

Service Details:

Maternal Mental health is a specialist community service provided within adult mental health services of Counties Manukau District Health Board. These services are provided via four geographically based Community Mental Health Centres in South Auckland.

Awhinatia Health CMHC 5-19 Great South Road, Papakura
Tel: 09 2951200
Manukau CMHC 17 Lambie Drive, Manukau City, Auckland
Tel: 09 2613700
The Cottage CMHC 24 Station Rd, Otahuhu, Auckland
Tel: 09 2709090
Te Rawhiti CMHC 15 Aberfeldy Road, Highland Park, Auckland
Tel: 09 5380700

Staffing:

Multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals including: Psychiatrist, psychologist, occupational therapist, nurses

Service Focus:

The primary aim of the MMH function is to ensure that specific expertise is provided to women who are either pregnant or up to 12 months post partum and are experiencing a moderate to severe mental health problem, where the mental health problem adversely impacts upon their pregnancy or abilities to fulfil the roles and responsibilities associated with motherhood. This is done through the provision of consultation liaison services to other primary or secondary health services or the provisions of direct face to face assessment and treatment services. Entry and exit criteria are the same as for people referred to CMDHB adult mental health services.

Types of Service:

Assessment and range of treatments offered. All outpatient based no inpatient facility.

Referral Process:

Initial collection and collation of information pertaining to referrals are undertaken by the triage staff within the CMHCs with consultation liaison from MMH staff.
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Comments:

Prior to August 2004, Maternal Mental Health was a stand alone specialist community service available by direct referral by GPs. In 2004 there was restructuring and the MMH became a ‘virtual team’ and it was integrated into the four geographical CMHC teams with designated MMH keyworkers based within each. The key workers are members of the both the CMHC and the MMH virtual team.