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Waitematā DHB Maternal Mental Health Service

Public Service

Today

8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Description

Maternal Mental Health is a small specialist mental health tertiary service that provides care to women who are pregnant or have a baby under 12 months of age.  The woman will be experiencing moderate to severe mental health issues related to the pregnancy, childbirth and/or the adjustment to parenting.
Referrals are directed to the Referrals Management Team located within the Adult Community Mental Health Service, according to the woman’s domicile address (Rodney, West or North).
It is recommended that pregnant women with a history of bipolar, schizophrenia, or psychosis, although currently well, are made known to the service.
A pre-conception assessment can be offered to women who have experienced a serious mental illness e.g. bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia.
Referrals from other secondary mental health service providers i.e. Adult Community Mental Health teams, Psychiatric Liaison and psychiatrists working in private practice, may contact Maternal Mental Health directly.
A phone consultation is offered to GPs. Our psychiatrists have specialist knowledge on safe medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

 

What is Mental Illness?
Mental illness is a clinically significant behaviour or psychological (to do with the mind) disorder that is associated with distress or disability. It is not just the way someone responds to a particular event nor is it limited to the way a person interacts with society.
 
A mental illness can continuously or intermittently (occasionally) affect our capacity for speech, language, mood, affect, thoughts, perceptions, insight, judgement, cognition (understanding) and volition (ability to make choices). It can limit our ability to function as society would normally expect of us and can put us and others at risk.
 
Mental illness is therefore, a broad term that covers problems ranging from minor to severe disorders.
 
 
Who is a Psychiatrist?
A ‘psychiatrist’ is a doctor who, after qualifying as a medical doctor, receives further training and develops the expertise to become a ‘specialist’ in identifying symptoms of, and diagnosing and treating, mental illnesses. You may have been referred to a psychiatrist if your doctor feels you need specialist help.

Hours

8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Mon – Fri8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

There is a Duty Clinician available for urgent calls via our main office - Ph (09) 488 4634

Afterhours and weekends please contact the mental health acute/crisis team via North Shore Hospital Ph (09) 486 8900 or Freephone 0800 80 93 42

Referral Expectations

Referrals to this service are through the respective adult community mental health team in the area  in which the woman resides.

Referrals are screened with consideration given to level of risk, the presence of perinatal stressors and attachment / bonding difficulties. The degree to which primary and secondary health has been trialed is also reviewed e.g. has the woman been given an adequate amount of time for medication to be of benefit? Has the woman been referred to community supports?

Common Conditions

  • Schizophrenia

    Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects about 1% of the general population.… More

  • Bipolar Disorder/Manic Depression

    This is a mood disorder in which both depressive (persistent low mood) and manic (elevated or high mood) episodes are experienced.… More

  • Depression

    Depression is a mood disorder. Emotional states like sadness, ‘feeling blue’ or tearfulness are part of normal human experience.… More

  • Anxiety Disorders

    We all feel some anxiety at some time or other.… More

  • Psychosis

    More

Document Downloads

Travel Directions

For Directions to North Shore office

124A Shakespeare Road, located within the Marinoto Building (see map)

 

For Directions to the Waitakere Hospital office

Entrance A, Child Health Unit, Waitakere Hospital, Lincoln Road, Henderson (see map)

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Parking

This is free parking for service usesr outside the Shakespeare Road office.

Contact Details

North Shore Hospital

North Auckland

Freephone 0800 80 93 42 - Waitemata DHB residential areas only
Patient enquiries:
(09) 486 8930

Emergency Department: Open 24 hours / 7 days, Phone (09) 486 8900

GPs, HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR A USER NAME & PASSWORD? There is important referral information in the 'Medical Professional Only' section. Please register through Healthpoint now.

Main Office:
124a Shakespeare Road
Takapuna
North Shore City

The service has an office at Waitakere Hospital in the Child Health Unit.
Women can be assessed and seen at venues convenient to them e.g. WDHB facilities, home, community setting.

Information about this location

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Street Address

Main Office:
124a Shakespeare Road
Takapuna
North Shore City

The service has an office at Waitakere Hospital in the Child Health Unit.
Women can be assessed and seen at venues convenient to them e.g. WDHB facilities, home, community setting.

Postal Address

Maternal Mental Health
Private Bag 93503
Takapuna
Auckland 0620

This page was last updated at 4:24PM on October 16, 2019. This information is reviewed and edited by Waitematā DHB Maternal Mental Health Service.