ATAPS: National Perinatal Depression Initiative
Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS): BOiMHCINational Perinatal Depression Initiative
Background
Under the Australian Government’s commitment to perinatal depression, an additional $20 million over five years is being provided for the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) component of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Program to support better treatment for women with perinatal depression.
The perinatal depression funding to GP Links Wide Bay through ATAPS is twofold. Firstly, funding to support allied health psychological service delivery, including, but not limited to, women with perinatal depression. Secondly, funding to establish linkages and referral pathways to promote seamless care for women with perinatal depression. Specifically this will support the liaison and coordination needed to enable better communication and referrals with local child and maternal health services and community services.
It will also enable GP Links Wide Bay to promote to GPs the use of ATAPS, as well as other care pathways such as existing Medicare items under the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners program, to support the care of women diagnosed with perinatal depression.
Activities under the National Perinatal Depression Initiative (NPDI):
• establishing linkages and relationships with local child and maternal health services and primary mental health care services to ensure that women experiencing perinatal depression and their families have the necessary resources available to them;
• as appropriate, promoting the use of other pathways to care for women experiencing perinatal depression and their families;
• ensuring that women experiencing perinatal depression and their families are able to receive treatment under ATAPS;
• promoting and disseminating materials and resources to GPs and allied health professionals to support professional practice in respect of perinatal depression treatment and support; and
• contributing data on perinatal depression to the ATAPS national Minimum Data Set (MDS).
Resources:
EPND Scale
Rationale for using EPND Scale
GPLWB ATAPS Referral Form
Resources and PND education & training opportunities from beyondblue:
· beyondblue Perinatal National Action Plan
· beyondblue Resources (refer to PND section)
Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN)
Maternal depression can undermine the development of young children
Working Paper 8, Center on the developing child, Harvard University
