Dear  ,

The Section of Section of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry is pleased to present its latest newsletter.

Notes from the Chair

It is with sadness that the Section of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry sees the departure of Professor Megan Galbally from the position of committee Chair. However, we are very pleased to retain Megan as the Victorian representative on the committee. This seems like a timely moment for the Section to reflect on its achievements over the last six years.

In the past six years, SPIP has worked on developing its identity within the RANZCP. Member engagement was initially fostered by the section newsletter in 2018, ensuring broad jurisdictional binational representation across the states. Efforts were directed towards greater academic and professional engagement, navigating the challenges of the Covid pandemic with its first SPIP webinar in 2022. Building on the success of 2022, a second webinar was held in 2023, culminating in an in-person SPIP conference at Healesville, Victoria, in 2024 with over 140 attendees. The section has also had a growing profile at the RANZCP Congress with invited speakers in 2022 and 2023.

The last six years also saw significant progress in the development of an Advanced Training certificate for Perinatal Psychiatry. Meetings were held with the project leads of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Perinatal Psychiatry Advanced Training to provide guidance and direction for our work. The process began with a case to the RANZCP for Perinatal Psychiatry to be recognised as an Area of Practice and the mapping of possible training positions as a feasibility exercise. After a pandemic-related pause, work resumed in full force in 2023 and 2024 with the re-formation of an SPIP working party for the Advanced Certificate of Perinatal Psychiatry. This year’s SPIP conference included a discussion forum on the development of the certificate, with keen interest and engagement from the SPIP body regarding its progress for our subspecialty.

The SPIP committee also revised RANZCP Position Statement 57 in 2021. This was an important piece of work as it (re)defined the scope of practice and expertise of perinatal psychiatry, including important points of difference from other specialty areas of practice such as Adult Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Consultation Liaison Psychiatry. The revision of the position statement was foundational in the process for the recognition of perinatal psychiatry as a recognised Area of Practice and the development of a Certificate of Advanced Training.

The section also became increasingly visible and vocal in advocacy. An SPIP committee member represents the RANZCP on the board of COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence) and participated in Commonwealth consultations regarding COPE. The committee also worked on the RANZCP position statement on sexual safety in psychiatric services and the development of the RANZCP action plan on Gender Equity. The SPIP committee, led by Professor Galbally, also lobbied and advocated tirelessly with the (now re-named) IHACPA (Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority) to acknowledge the additional costs incurred by Mother Baby Units (MBU) compared to acute inpatient units or parentcraft support organisations. Part of this work involved defining the characteristics of a Mother Baby Unit and the kind of care delivered. It is hoped that this work, which is in progress, will contribute to the increase of Mother Baby Units binationally by improving their financial viability.

This long list of achievements of the Section of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry over the last six years has been tirelessly spearheaded by Professor Megan Galbally, ably assisted by the members of the committee and college staff. On behalf of the SPIP committee, I would like to thank Megan for all her work. I would also like to acknowledge and thank those who have served on the committee over the last six years and look forward to your ongoing support for the section.

Sylvia Lim-Gibson
Chair, Bi-national SPIP Committee

State News

Australia Capital Territory

The Perinatal and Infant Mental health Consultation Service (PIMHCS) Mother- Infant DBT program is being run for the second time in Canberra and the service has been advised funding is ongoing. Canberra Health Services will be collaborating with the University of Canberra to evaluate the program.

'The First 1000 Days Conference’ organised by Tresillian, MaryMead CatholicCare, the Perinatal Wellbeing Centre and the ACT Government is being held during Perinatal Mental Health Week, on Tuesday 19th of November at The Rex Canberra. Speakers will be finalised shortly. Please save the date and look it up if you are planning to be in Canberra.

Ilona DiBella
ACT Representative Member, Bi-national SPIP Committee

Queensland

The QLD Section for Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry continues to meet regularly 4 times a year. We have met twice this year. Our first meeting we had a presentation from UK Perinatal psychiatrist Dr Sam Porter whose talk “Neurodivergance and Motherhood – Considerations for Perinatal Mental health “was well received. We also had a case presentation from Dr Paul Pun who had been acting director of Catherine’s House Mother Baby Unit on Child protection issues. Dr Kannan Kallaparin commenced as the new director of Catherine’s House in May. Catherine’s House in Brisbane and Lavender Mother and Baby Unit on the Gold Coast have 12 public Mother baby beds between them.

We hope to have our next meeting face to face but will continue to have online meetings to enable participation from Perinatal and infant psychiatrists, other interested psychiatrists and training registrars to join in.

This year also sees the roll out of $89 m in funding from the state government initiative Better Care Together for perinatal and infant psychiatrists and perinatal and infant mental health clinicians around the state.  The state government has recently announced investing an initial $39 million to deliver mother and baby beds throughout Queensland. There will need to be ongoing considerations for the training, support and supervision of these new colleagues.

The Queensland Centre for Perinatal Mental Health has initiated an Advisory group to provide a forum to support the development of the perinatal and infant mental health service system in Queensland.

Over the next 12 months will also see the implementation of iCOPE digital screening across public maternity services. Individual Hospital and Health Services are working with COPE to ensure the introduction is individualised to their circumstances.

The Gold Coast Perinatal Mental Health Service will launch “Eating Disorders in the Peripartum: Online learning module” that was co- designed with lived experience and health professionals.

Susan Roberts
QLD Co-opted Member, Bi-national SPIP Committee

New South Wales

The NSW Section of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry continues to meet virtually in 2024 for education sessions. Sessions this year included case studies from the St John of God psychiatry team and then a related presentation from psychiatrist, Dr David Chapman from the Northern Territory who is a Collaborator in the ADHD in Females Special Interest Group of the HER Centre Australia. This was an enlightening session for the many psychiatrists and trainees who attended, providing much needed insights into ADHD in our area of specialisation. Our next education meeting will again take advantage of crossing States via zoom with Prof Jayashuri Kulkarni presenting on Complex PTSD and hormones.

We plan to meet face to face at Maddison House latter in the year when we have local presenters. This will allow for further networking and support opportunities.

There have also been some changes to membership of our NSW Section of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry Subcommittee that meets regularly through the year to address local issues in this speciality area. We welcome Annie Macadam to the subcommittee as our new psychiatry trainee. Also, Sylvia Lim-Gibson has now stepped down as Chair as she takes up her new role as Binational Chair. We have thanked Sylvia for her significant contributions in the role over the last few years.  Anne-Marie Rees has commenced in the Chair position now and Michelle Smith will continue in the Deputy Chair role.

Dr Anne-Marie Rees
NSW Representative Member, Bi-national SPIP Committee

South Australia

The Mindfulness-Based Childbirth Education Program “Mind in Labour, mind in Life” has received permanent funding so is expected to continue for the foreseeable future at the WCH. Work remains to be done on guaranteeing workforce by training up new educators, and there are active plans to apply for grant funding to look at the impact of the program on stress regulation in the participants and their babies.

The pilot study of the 10 session “Lifeboat” program for women with BPD continues with its second run; this novel program incorporates principles of DBT and MBT.

MI-DBT Plus also continues, this study offers dyadic therapy (ABC) as an add-on to Mother-Infant DBT in order to maximise potential benefits to the mother-infant relationship and the infant’s outcomes.

The “Block and stack” design for the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital has been unveiled. It includes only half the number of Parent-Infant Mental Health beds compared to the original plans, with the new intention being to retain 6 beds/cots at the existing site.

SA is expecting at least one Gidget House to be established in the near future, providing new options for treatment pathways.

The Inklings program for early signs of autism is set to be rolled out as a 3-year project, with 24 practitioners statewide to be trained and then deployed to serve up to 20 families each per week.

At Helen Mayo House, the Peer Specialist position has been made permanent, a move that has been welcomed by staff and patients alike – our consumers have been very clear that they appreciate and benefit from the unique perspective provided by the Peer Specialist.

Liz Coventry
SA Representative Member, Bi-national SPIP Committee

Northern Territory

Northern Territory offers perinatal mental health services in the Top End and Alice Springs. Services function in a consultation liaison model. Project is underway to design a service to reach rural and remote communities via telehealth. A component of this work is developing educational resources promoting early relational health and infant development.

Nimalee Kanakkahewa
NT Representative Member, Bi-national SPIP Committee

One for the reading list – Because I’m not myself, you see

Twice lately I have been asked at what stage it might be useful for a book such as this to be recommended to people who have experienced severe perinatal mental illness. I’m still not sure how to answer this question. The recovery journey is deeply unique and personal. For some, they might yearn for information and firsthand accounts to help them feel less alone. For others, it might feel too close to home to possibly consider reading. And for most, I’m guessing they may fluctuate between these feelings depending on their experience and stage of recovery.

Enjoy the read!

Gen Whitlam
Community Member

Next Edition 

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