Purpose

The purpose and function of the State Perinatal Mental Health Reference Group is to advise WA Perinatal Mental Health Unit in the planning, implementation and evaluation of key government strategies for perinatal mental health in WA.

History

A key action of the State Mental Health Strategy 2004-2007 was the “extension of the Statewide Post Natal Depression (PND) services for mothers with babies”. This was to be overseen by the State Perinatal Mental Health Strategy, consisting of a State Coordinator, an Administrative Assistant and a guidance committee called the State Perinatal Reference Group (SPRG). The SPRG originally included members from King Edward Memorial Hospital, Women’s Health Services, Ngala, Child and Community Health, and the Postnatal Depression Support Association.

New staff members joined the State Coordinator in 2006/7 to oversee research, health promotion, education and websites; this team became the WA Perinatal Mental Health Unit (WAPMHU). In 2008, the SPRG changed its name to the State Perinatal Mental Health Reference Group (SPMHRG) to clarify its specific focus. The SPMHRG has grown to include representatives from over a dozen agencies, and continues to advise and guide WAPMHU.

Membership

Membership will be reviewed annually and consist of representatives from the following organisations:

• Australian Association of Infant Mental Health Inc (AAIMHI)
• Carer/Partner representatives
• Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS)
  • Child and Adolescent Community Health (CACH)
  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
• Consumer representatives
• From The Heart WA Inc
• Metropolitan Mental Health Services
  • North:  Adult Mental Health Program
    • State Aboriginal Mental Health Service
  • South: Transcultural Mental Health Services, Department of Psychiatry, RPH
• Ngala Family Resource Services
• North Metropolitan Area Health Service (NMAHS)
  • Public Health Unit
• Perinatal Mental Health Professional Association (PMHPA)
• RUAH Community Services
• St John of God Health Care
• WA Country Health Service (WACHS)
  • Aboriginal Health Unit
  • Central Office
  • Wheatbelt Mental Health Service
• WA General Practice
• Women’s Health Services
  • Gosnells Women’s Health Services
  • Women’s Health and Family Services (Northbridge)
• Women and Newborn Health Service (WNHS)
  • State Obstetrics Support Unit (SOSU)
  • Women’s Health Clinical Care Unit (WHCCU)
    • Department of Psychological Medicine
    • Mother and Baby Unit (MBU)
    • WA Perinatal Mental Health Unit (WAPMHU)
    • Women’s Health Policy and Projects Unit (WHPPU)
• Women and Newborn Health Network
• Email Membership
  • Department for Communities
  • South Coastal Women’s Health Centre
  • WACHS Population Health

Roles and responsibilities of members

State Perinatal Mental Health Reference Group members are expected to:

• Identify and raise relevant issues relating to perinatal mental health.
• Participate in discussion and consultations
• Provide advice in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the five key strategic areas of perinatal mental health
• Coordination
• Education and training
• Research
• Service expansion
• Health promotion
• Review, provide feedback and make recommendations relevant to key strategic areas
• Respond to significant issues between meetings
• Ensure information exchange between groups they represent and the broader SPMHRG membership.
• Participate in subcommittees/working parties as deemed necessary
• Maintain confidentiality where stipulated by the Chairperson
• Attend at least 75% of the quarterly meetings or appoint a proxy. In the event of non-attendance on-going membership will be reviewed.
• Declare a pecuniary or conflict of interest in a matter which is before the meeting for discussion. The Chair will make the decision as to whether the member should withdraw from the meeting during the discussion of the matter

Chair

The chair of SPMHRG is the Head of Department, Psychological Medicine or their nominated representative.

The minute taker of SPMHRG is the WAPMHU Administrative Assistant or their nominated representative.

Meetings

Meetings shall be quarterly for no longer than 1½ hours on the fourth Thursday of February, May, August and November of each year or as determined by the SPMHRG.

Meetings of subcommittees/working groups will be scheduled as directed by the Chair.

Minutes

Feb 2010	Feb 2011
May 2010	May 2011
(no Aug meeting)
Nov 2010

(Previous minutes available upon request)

WAPMHU progress reports

Feb 2011
May 2011
Aug 2011

(Previous reports available upon request)

Subcommittees

Education Subcommittee

The purpose and function of the Education Subcommittee is to advise the WAPMHU in the planning, implementation and evaluation of education and training activities in WA. This includes identifying target audiences and emerging trends, and assisting with the organisation of professional development events (e.g. symposia).

Membership will be reviewed annually and consist of nominated State Perinatal Mental Health Reference Group members (or their nominated proxy) who have been endorsed by their organisation to participate.

The chair of the Subcommittee is the WAPMHU Education and Training Officer (or their nominated representative).

National Perinatal Depression Initiative Implementation Subcommittee

The purpose and function of the Implementation Subcommittee is to advise WAPMHU in the planning, implementation and evaluation of key activities for NPDI in WA.

Membership will be reviewed annually and consist of nominated SPMHRG members (or their nominated proxy) who have been endorsed by their organisation to participate.

The chair of the Subcommittee is the WAPMHU State Coordinator (or their nominated representative).

Contact

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