Service Title:

Postnatal Therapy Service Ltd (NGO contracted to Lakes District Health Board)

Service Details:

Postnatal Therapy Service Ltd
PO Box 12069
Rotorua
Tel: 0274 326 117

Staffing:

Psychologist, counsellor, volunteer crèche staff

Service Focus:

Contracted to the Lakes District Health Board to provide specialist assessment and group therapy for women experiencing postnatal depression. Rotorua area only.

Types of Service:

Psychological assessment, conducted in woman’s home; “Mother Matters” 8 week group therapy programme (CBT focus) – incorporates session for partners and one mother-baby interaction session; discharge planning meetings. Consultation to other community agencies and health providers.

Referral Process:

Referrals received from Well Child Providers (Plunket and Tipu Ora); GPs; CMHC

Comments:

The Lakes District Health Board does not have a specific Maternal Mental Health Service, and women with MMH issues have traditionally been accommodated within the CMHC. Post Natal Therapy Service Ltd was established in 2004 by Tina and Judy Martin who were concerned about the lack of specialist mental health services in Rotorua for women experiencing PND. Initially funded as a Pilot programme by Lakes DHB – Mental Health, funding subsequently rolled over for a further 20 months. The contract is currently subject to annual review. It is hoped to develop the service to build capacity to better address the partner issues and to give more attention to mother-baby interaction, and to provide more consultation/early intervention for women in the antenatal period.