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Media release

From the Minister for Health

Friday, 5 September 2003

WERRIBEE MOTHER-BABY UNIT DELIVERS PEACE OF MIND

Troubled new mothers in Melbourne’s west can now access professional help closer to home through a $1.6 million specialist unit in Werribee, Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said today.

Up to 15 per cent of women experience major depression in the first year following childbirth, Ms Pike said, launching a specialist psychiatric mother-baby unit at Werribee Mercy Hospital.

“Around half will have developed depression before delivery or during pregnancy,” Ms Pike said.

The $1.6 million Werribee unit is one of three in Melbourne serving women from around the State.

Ms Pike said this was on top of $10 million in Government funds being allocated to redevelop and expand the Werribee Mercy.

“This unit offers support for mothers and their babies, largely thanks to dedicated staff, who had a big hand in its design,” Ms Pike said.

“The facility will provide support, training and expert advice to public adult mental health and primary care services, and develop local networks to help families at risk of mental illness during and after pregnancy.

Responding to a baby’s needs 24 hours a day is hard work for many women, Ms Pike said.

“How much harder must it be then for new mothers who develop serious depression?

“How much harder, too, for women with a pre-existing mental illness, who must confront the twin challenges of motherhood and mental illness?.

“At Werribee Mercy, through inpatient treatment or community outreach, mothers will receive treatment and care to help them manage their own peace of mind and give babies the care they need.”

Ms Pike called on all health professionals working with new mothers to be more aware of signs of depression and to have clear referral pathways to help women receive treatment.

For years, the mother-baby unit served women in the western suburbs and western districts of Victoria from a base in East Melbourne. Now relocated to Werribee, it is closer to those it serves.

Other specialist psychiatric mother-baby units are at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton and at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.

(F: Press2003/MBUwerribeeBP/pivetta/05.09)

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