Download AMIHS how MH affects mums and bubs - Ella Kristen

AMIHS
Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service
Kristen Ella & Eda Devoti
What is AMIHS?
• Model of providing Antenatal Care within NSW Health to
Aboriginal women in a more culturally safe way.
• Involves a
• Community Midwife
• Aboriginal Health Worker (AHW)
• Provides a flexible service delivery
model
• Engages women earlier in the
pregnancy
• Is a primary health care model
• Aims to integrate within the Aboriginal
Community to build trust and
engagement
• To link Aboriginal women into antenatal
care earlier in their pregnancy
• To reduce the number of premature
infants born
• To increase the number of Aboriginal
women who initiate breastfeeding with
their infants
• To reduce the number of pregnant
Aboriginal women who smoke.
AMIHS – MHDAS
• Pilot project funded for 3 years commencing
July 2011
• 8 sites across NSW to employ MH & D&A
workers and trainees on request to be colocated with the AMIHS midwives and
Aboriginal Health Workers
• Focus on the provision of early intervention
MH and D&A services to Aboriginal pregnant
women at risk of MH and/or D&A issues
• Facilitate linking women into appropriate treatment
services where there are MH and/or drug use issues
• Reduce the barriers to referrals into specialist MHDA
services
• Develop strategies and programs that assist the women
to focus on the parent – child relationship
Why is it important to have a
Mental Health Worker involved
while pregnant?
• The unborn infant
• The risk factors for foetal brain
development during pregnancy
• Potential Risks for mums and bubs
Attachment
• Attachment between an infant and a primary caregiver(s)
begins prior to birth
• Attachment is necessary for human survival
• Infants are born predisposed to social interaction
• The attachment relationship is built on the pattern of
emotional interactions between an infant and a caregiver
Medication During Pregnancy
• Psychotropic/Antidepressant Medication
• Pros and Cons
• Mothersafe - 1800 647 848 &
http://www.mothersafe.org.au/
• SwOPS - State-wide Outreach Perinatal MH Service
02 8821 4457 or 0417448314