Perinatal Outreach Mental Health Service (POMHS)
The Perinatal Outreach Mental Health Service (POMHS) clinician is a psychologist or Mental Health Midwife/Nurse who provides care for families during pregnancy & up to 12 months postpartum who are faced with mental health challenges before or during pregnancy or in the transition to parenthood.
The service is provided in the home setting and expands across the Northern sector of Southeast Sydney Local Health District.
POMHS provides Mental Health assessment and care, supportive counselling, medication advice and referrals to other services to support families to develop parenting skills and confidence to optimise infant attachment.
A clinician will visit every week or fortnight depending on the need.
POMHS works closely with services that are already involved with these families such as General Practitioners, Parent Support team, Early childhood Service, Karitane and Tresillian, Obstetricians, Midwives, Psychologists and Psychiatrists. They also assist with referrals to these community services.
Referral to POMHS is through the RHW psychiatrist or the GP can refer to our service then referral to POMHS after a review with an RHW psychiatrist.