Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services (PIMHS) - Helen Mayo House

Helen Mayo House Annual Conference 2019

 Click here for information on the Helen Mayo House Annual Conference for 2019

Information on Helen Mayo House Services

This website contains information about the services provided at HMH. It also provides some practical information for parents and families who may be thinking about coming to HMH. Information is also provided for medical practitioners or mental health clinicians who would like to make a referral to HMH. 

PIMHS - Helen Mayo House (HMH) is a State-wide acute mother-baby unit which admits parents (usually mothers) and their children 2 years of age or younger, if the parent needs treatment for mental health problems such as depression, anxiety or psychosis following childbirth.

Information for Service Providers

HMH Referral Form

Click here for further Information for Service Providers including the referral process, referral form and further information on Helen Mayo House services.

Information for Parents and Families:

Information for Parents and Families  (574kb)

 Click here for information on alternative support services for parents and families

Telephone Counselling

Helen Mayo House does not have a dedicated counselling line. During the hours of 8:30am to 7pm, the PANDA advice line on 1300 726 306 is the best point of contact for immediate help, counselling and advice about a woman's mental health around the time of having babies and until her infant is one year old.

However, nursing staff are on duty 24 hours, seven days a week and are able to take phone calls to provide support to prospective parents and their families if there is a crisis during the times that PANDA are not available. PANDA are also able to answer queries by emailing them on support@panda.org.au and they will get back to you in their working hours.

Helen Mayo House phone numbers
   – Local telephone: 7087 1030 or 7087 1031
   – Toll Free: 1800 18 22 32 for country callers and ask for Helen Mayo House

Beyondblue – ph: 1300 224 636
   – an alternate line for those wanting more general information.

Alternative support services for parents and families

Acorn Group – The Acorn group supports parents of infants aged 0 – 3 years of age. Acorn is structured to strengthen the parent-infant relationship through experiences of shared play, music and movement and some dedicated parent only time for reflection.

Information and Publications

Puerperal Psychosis - Information for Families

"A Carers Survival Guide" by Craig Allat (father and carer) October 2011

Post Natal Depression – Information for Consumers

Helen Mayo House staff have written three children's books dealing with parents' mental health problems, each with a different focus. More information and links to ordering these books can be accessed by clicking this link or read a little more here.

Meltdown Moments  (May 2018)
This book will be valuable to families where parents are struggling to keep their emotions together, either because of the tensions of every day life or because a parent has borderline personality disorder.  People working in educational settings with small children can also use this book as a starting point for discussions about family emotions.

Jake's Dinosaurs is a picture storybook written especially for children whose mothers have developed a severe mental illness such as schizophrenia. The author, Anne Sved Williams, is a consultant psychiatrist at Helen Mayo House. The book is illustrated by John Siow.

Robby Rose and Monkey is a delightful, whimsical story about post-natal depression woven around the life of Monkey, Robby's toy friend. This book is written by Andrea Louis, a clinical psychologist, and is illustrated by John Siow.

Certificate in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health

Certificate in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health

Educational Services for Community Groups or Health Organisations

PIMHS – Helen Mayo House staff are involved in the provision of education regarding perinatal psychiatric illness. With forward planning, most staff members are available for in-service lectures, group discussions etc for health organisations or community groups.

PIMHS – Helen Mayo House staff also run an annual conference on issues associated with perinatal psychiatric illness and infant mental health.

For more information please phone (08) 7087 1047 between 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday – Friday.

Community Support Services

PIMHS - Helen Mayo community staff are able to attend postnatal depression support groups, either for specific educational input or to provide regular support.

last modified: 20 Jul 2020

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