Perinatal Mental Health Team
What is Perinatal Mental Health?
It is not unusual to feel changes to your mental health during pregnancy and after the birth of your baby. This is called the perinatal period – during it you may experience an increase in depression, anxiety and pre-existing mental health conditions.
Who we are
The Perinatal Mental Health Team (PMH) includes Mental Health Nursing, Mental Health Occupational Therapy and Clinical Psychology. We provide help across Dumfries and Galloway.
For more information, click here to view a leaflet about the service [LINK]
What we do
The Perinatal Mental Health team provides specialist support from conception to the infant’s first birthday.
Our support can be:
- Pre-conception advice for women with mental health diagnoses
- Specialist assessment of mental health in the perinatal period
- Evidence based psychological therapies
- Occupational Therapy assessment and interventions
- Individual, family and group work
How to access support
Referrals can be made by Health Professionals in Dumfries and Galloway. Referral for Mental Health Nursing assessment/ support is direct to the local Community Mental Health Team.
Referral to Psychology is direct to the Adult Mental Health Psychology Department.
Occupational Therapy Assessment is an option for individuals already assessed by Perinatal Mental Health Nursing and/ or Perinatal Clinical Psychology.
Self-referral is not possible.
What support involves
The Community Mental Health Team may offer an assessment and then agree a support plan with you. This may involve a medication review, support from a Mental Health Nurse, and input from the PMH Team Specialist Mental Health Nurse.
If referred for Perinatal Clinical Psychology you will be offered an assessment and then if appropriate evidence based psychological therapy. For more information, visit the Adult Mental Health Psychology webpage.
Perinatal Occupational Therapy involves consideration of all personal needs, psychological, physical, social and environmental factors to provide practical support to help people to recover and overcome barriers preventing them from doing the activities that are important to them.
We work closely with health visitors, family nurses, obstetricians and midwives involved in your care.
We can signpost partners to appropriate support services if needed.
If you require admission to a Mother and Baby Unit at Levendale Hospital, Glasgow, or St John’s Hospital, Livingstone, we shall continue to be part of your care. We shall aim to attend weekly meetings and continue input when you re discharged.
The Perinatal Mental Health Team is based at:
Mountainhall Treatment Centre
Bankend Road
Dumfries
DG1 4AP
Telephone: 01387 246246
Where will my appointment be?
- You can be offered appointments:
- at your home
- at a local health centre
- by a Community Mental Health Team at Mountainhall Treatment Centre
- or by Near Me video link
We work closely with these services as part
of the wider Perinatal Infant Mental Health Service
The Maternal and Neonatal Psychological Interventions Team (MNPI) offers assessment and support to families who have experienced distress as a result of experiences including birth trauma, neonatal admissions and baby loss. For more information, visit the team’s webpage
Wee Minds Matter is an Infant Mental Health service which supports the parent-infant relationship from 1- 3 years of age. For more information, visit the Wee Minds Matter webpage
For more information about our services, download the Perinatal Services leaflet