Find a perinatal mental health service
Get support with your mental and emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and the early years of parenting.
On this page
Crisis support
13YARN
13YARN (13 92 67) is a 24 hour crisis helpline where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can yarn without judgement. If you, or someone you know, are feeling worried or no good, you can talk with a support person who shares your culture.
Lifeline
Lifeline (13 11 14) is a crisis helpline and suicide prevention service. You can talk to someone by phone, text or online 24 hours a day. A trained crisis supporter will listen without judgement and help you through your tough times.
Mental health access line
Calling 1300 MH CALL (1300 642 255) will connect you with your local mental health service. They're a triage service so you might need to leave your details and get a call back. You can call 24 hours a day. A mental health professional can give advice and support and refer you directly to other services you might need.
Suicide Call Back Service
Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) is a free 24 hour phone and online counselling service. It's for people at risk of suicide, worried about someone else at risk, or who have lost someone to suicide. You can talk to them about any emotional and mental health issues you're having.
For everyone
Australian Multiple Birth Association
The Australian Multiple Birth Association supports families with twins, triplets or more. They have free resources on their website, or you can pay to become a member and join one of their local support groups.
Australian Multiple Birth Association
Connecting2u
Connecting2u is a free text messaging service for parents and carers through pregnancy and the first 5 years of your child's life. When you sign up, you'll get messages each week with tips on health and wellbeing for you and your baby. There are specialised messages for mums, dads, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and Pacific Islander parents.
COPE
COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence) helps parents get support for their mental health. They have a directory of specialist services that can help when you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant, if you're a parent, or if you've experienced baby loss. You can search the directory by location to find the help you need close to home. They also have helpful resources on their website.
ForWhen
ForWhen (1300 24 23 22) is a free phone service that connects you with local perinatal mental health services. You can call Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm and talk to a perinatal mental health specialist about how you're feeling. They'll find and put you in touch with local services that can help you.
Gidget Foundation Australia
The Gidget Foundation helps expectant and new parents get specialist care for their emotional wellbeing. They offer free individual or group counselling sessions with specialist perinatal mental health clinicians. In some areas they're face to face and in others they use telehealth. They also have free online peer support groups you can join to connect with other parents.
Hyperemesis Australia
Hyperemesis Australia offers support for people suffering with severe pregnancy sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum). They host community groups on Facebook for pregnancy sickness sufferers. They also have a dedicated support group for people who've had terminations. You can reach out to them directly for support.
Mother and baby units
Queensland Health units
Catherine's House and the Lavender Mother and Baby Mental Health Units are inpatient units for mothers with a baby under one. They offer specialist treatment for severe or complex mental health issues. You'll need a referral from your GP or a mental health clinician, psychiatrist or obstetrician. Catherine's House is at the Mater hospital in Brisbane. Lavender Mother and Baby Unit is at Gold Coast University Hospital.
Catherine's House for Mothers, Babies and Families
Lavender Mother and Baby Mental Health Unit
Brisbane Centre for Postnatal Disorders
The Brisbane Centre for Postnatal Disorders is a mother and baby unit for women experiencing perinatal mood disorders. It's at the Belmont Private Hospital. If you have private hospital insurance cover, you can find out more by speaking to your GP.
Brisbane Centre for Postnatal Disorders
PANDA
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) supports parents and families during pregnancy and the first year of parenthood. They have a free support and counselling helpline (1300 726 306) and a lot of helpful resources on their website.
Peach Tree Perinatal Wellness
Peach Tree runs support groups and education programs for parents, partners, and families who are impacted by emotional and mental health challenges. You can book directly into the sessions listed on their website. They have locations across the east coast of Queensland.
Queensland Health perinatal mental health services
Queensland Health perinatal mental health services help with mental health challenges. The services are free, but you usually need a referral. Talk to your GP or a health professional to get support near you.
Through the Unexpected
Through the Unexpected support parents who have been given unexpected news about the health or development of their baby during pregnancy. They have information and resources, as well as a list of support groups for specific diagnoses and conditions.
White Cloud Foundation
The White Cloud Foundation offer a free mental health service by phone. When you call, they'll talk to you about what you need and then book you a phone appointment with a clinician who can help. You'll usually get around 6 sessions.
They also run a Meals for Mums service to deliver nutritious meals to new and expecting mums struggling with perinatal mental health issues. You'll need a referral from your GP or another health professional for Meals for Mums.
Mums
1800 4 WOMEN
1800 4 WOMEN (1800 496 636) is a free and confidential phone counselling service. It's run by women for women, girls and gender diverse people. They can help with mental health issues, grief and loss, pregnancy advice and support, and domestic violence issues.
MumSpace
MumSpace offers free online support, advice and digital therapy programs to help you care for your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Mums in Distress helpline
Mums in Distress (1300 853 437) is a helpline for mums having a tough time after a separation. You can call them 24 hours a day or ask for a callback if you want to guarantee you can speak to a woman. You can also join one of their online support groups. Mums in Distress is run by Parents Beyond Breakup.
Mums Matter Psychology
Mums Matter is for parents struggling with their mental health. You can have individual therapy or group therapy, and appointments can be in person or through telehealth. You can also get specialist support with navigating IVF or relationship counselling with your partner. They offer problem solving sessions to help you find practical solutions to problems you're having. You can get 20 bulk billed sessions if you have a mental health care plan from your GP. You can use up to 10 sessions each year.
Dads
DadSpace
DadSpace offer free online support, advice and digital therapy programs to help you care for your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Dads in Distress helpline
Dads in Distress (1300 853 437) is a 24 hour helpline for dads having a tough time after a separation. You can also join one of their online support groups. Dads in Distress is run by Parents Beyond Breakup.
SMS4Dads and SMS4DeadlyDads
SMS4Dads sends free weekly text messages to new and expecting dads during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood. It can help you understand your role as a dad and help you connect with your baby. They also have an SMS4DeadlyDads service to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dads on their parenting journey.
Families living in rural areas
Motherland Australia
Motherland is a national charity that supports and connects mothers in rural areas across Australia. They run online rural mothers groups and a podcast about rural motherhood. They also have a range of services available to support rural families on their website. Some of their services have a fee.
Outback Futures
Outback Futures is a mental health and wellbeing service. They have psychologists, counsellors and mental health social workers who can help support you with a range of issues. They do outreach sessions in rural Queensland, as well as offering telehealth appointments. You don't need a referral.
Royal Flying Doctors Service
The Royal Flying Doctors Service offers a free wellbeing service for remote communities in Queensland. They offer face to face, individual clinical counselling sessions. They can also arrange more support using telehealth with no referral.
Rural Health Connect
You can use Rural Health Connect to book phone or video sessions with a psychologist. Their service is for anyone who needs it. If you want to claim your sessions on Medicare, you'll need a referral and mental health treatment plan from a GP
Pregnancy loss
Red Nose
Red Nose offer grief and loss support for families who have lost a baby. You can talk to someone on the phone, using online chat, or join one of their online or in person support groups. They also have information and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence
The Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence has a directory of services that can help you after the loss of your baby.
Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence
The Pink Elephants Support Network
The Pink Elephants Support Network have a range of support options for people experiencing pregnancy loss. They have peer support groups and a pregnancy loss helpline, as well as a 6 week online program to help you through your grief.
The Pink Elephants Support Network
Young parents
Brave Foundation
The Brave Foundation runs the Supporting Expecting and Parenting Teens Program for young parents. It's for parents under 19 and gives you access to a parenting mentor for 12 months.
Young Pregnant and Parenting Network
The Young Parent and Parenting Network has a directory of support available for young parents in Queensland.
Young Pregnant and Parenting Network
You can find more youth mental health support services on the Dear Mind website.