The State Government has announced a $39 million investment to establish 30 new mother-baby mental healthcare beds across the state, including in Logan.
Currently, Queensland has only 12 public perinatal mental health inpatient beds, concentrated in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
To address this gap in service provision, the State Government’s investment will see the establishment of additional mother-baby beds in Logan and five other locations: Townsville, Cairns and Hinterland, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, and South Brisbane.
Minister for health, mental health, and ambulance serviceaervice Shannon Fentiman highlighted the need to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Queensland families.
“As many as one in five mothers experience anxiety and depression during this critical time, and others face even more complex mental health challenges,” she said.
“Our investment will ensure new mums can access the care and support they need with their new bubs right beside them, where they belong.”
The perinatal period, spanning from conception to 24 months postpartum, is a critical phase during which the mental health and wellbeing of parents can significantly influence the health of the baby.
These mother-baby beds play a crucial role in facilitating the development of the mother-baby bond while ensuring that mothers receive comprehensive support and care in a safe environment.
By providing wrap-around specialist care, these beds enable mothers to care for their babies while receiving the assistance they need to address any mental health concerns.
The rollout of the new beds is scheduled to occur between mid-2024 and late 2026.
In addition to expanding bed capacity, the State Government has released a Clinical Guideline for Perinatal Mental Health to support clinicians in delivering quality antenatal and postnatal mental healthcare.
This guideline will complement the $10.3 million development of the universal screening tool iCOPE, which aims to facilitate meaningful conversations about mental health between clinicians and mothers.
“Our new Clinical Guideline for Perinatal Mental Health will support our hardworking health staff to continue delivering their quality mental healthcare,” Shannon Fentiman said.
“We have listened to the needs of Queensland families and I’m so proud that our government is delivering to improve their healthcare across our state.”
