Queensland Health has established a centre for parents experiencing mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
Catherine’s House, at the Mater Hospital in South Brisbane, is the result of a partnership between the Department and Mater. It will provide eight public beds to families suffering acute perinatal mental health issues.
The eight beds add to the four already located at Lavender Mother Baby Unit at the Gold Coast University Hospital, which opened in 2017.
Like the Lavender Mother Baby Unit, Catherine’s House will support hundreds of new Queensland families each year through a range of day programs, group and individual treatments, home-visiting services, and emotional wellbeing support.
Funding for Catherine’s House comes from the Better Care Together Plan released by the Department last year, with $122 million set aside to deliver mental health support services for new mothers.
Minister for Health, Yvette D’Ath said evidence showed mothers experiencing acute anxiety and depression were better served by having their babies with them as they received the treatment they needed.
“Catherine’s House will offer expert care in one place for the most serious cases of perinatal mental health issues,” Ms D’Ath said.
“The facility will be accepting referrals from health professionals across the entire State.”
She said hundreds of new parents would benefit from the partnership with access to day programs and other support services on site.
