HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
Living with mental illness during & after pregnancy
If you've been diagnosed with a mental illness during pregnancy or after your baby is born, there are many things you can do and people who can help you. Try some of the suggestions below.
What can I do?
As with any illness, the sooner you get help, the sooner you'll get better.
See your GP and talk to your GP or practice nurse about how you're feeling. They can talk to you about treatment options. Also talk to your midwife or LMC at your regular appointments during pregnancy and in the four to six weeks after your baby is born.
Learn more about mental illness during and after pregnancy
Learn about what causes the illness, how it affects people and the different treatments that are available. This can help you feel more able to cope and less alone with the problem. These two resources are helpful:
- Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Aotearoa
This New Zealand website has a lot of information about mental illness in pregnancy.
- Beyond Blue – Pregnancy & new parents
This Australian website covers topics from bonding with your baby to spotting the signs of anxiety and depression.
Online self-help
These are free resources that can help you to understand mental illness better. They also provide strategies that can help. Try some of the online self-help options on the treatments page
Stay healthy
It will help if you eat healthy foods, avoid coffee and alcohol, and quit smoking. Keeping physically active can help too, and it doesn't have to be high-intensity. Talk to your GP or practice nurse about getting a Green Prescription.
Who can help?
These people and organisations can help you if you are having mental health issues.
General practice team
If you need to find a general practice team, you can search on the West Coast PHO's website.
Midwife or lead maternity carer
If you need to find a midwife, you can view profiles and availability on Find Your Midwife.
Community support groups
The Well Child Tamariki Ora providers listed on this page can refer you to suitable programmes.
Phone or email services
- 1737, need to talk? – Phone 1737 or 0800-1737-1737 or txt 1737 (available 24/7). Trained counsellors who use proven behavioural support techniques.
- Lifeline – Phone 0800-543-354 (available 24/7). Free confidential professional counselling service.
Counsellor or therapist
You can find a counsellor, therapist or psychiatrist in the Family Services Directory.
Mental Health Education and Resource Centre (MHERC)
The Canterbury Mental Health Education and Resource Centre Trust (MHERC) provides information, education, and support to people with mental health and addiction issues, their families and whānau, and caregivers.
West Coast DHB Specialist Mental Health Services (Mother and Baby Unit)
West Coast DHB's Specialist Mental Health Service is the main provider of mental health services in West Coast. You'll need a referral from your GP to access the Mother and Baby Unit. It's for mothers who have serious mental illness during pregnancy or in the year after their baby is born.
The unit may also see pregnant woman who are at risk of becoming seriously unwell, and mentally unwell fathers if they are the primary caregiver of a baby.
On the next page: Treatments for mental illness during & after pregnancy
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Page created August 2017. Last updated June 2019.
Sources
Review key: HIMIP-416276
