The Perinatal Mental Health Team (PNMHT) will provide specialist mental health assessment, care and treatment for pregnant and postnatal women/birthing parents in the Tayside catchment area, who are experiencing (or are at risk of developing) severe perinatal mental illness/complex mental health issues.
The perinatal period covers from conception until the infant is 12months old. We aim to work in partnership with women/birthing parents, their partners and families and other professionals involved in women’s/birthing parent’s care, to provide the best possible holistic care and early intervention to ensure the best possible outcomes for women/birthing parents, their infants and families. We aim to work flexibly across Tayside and will offer appointments via video consultation (“Near Me”), telephone or face-to-face in clinics at our base, in their locality or home visits, based upon individual needs and preferences.
Perinatal Mental Health Service
Who We Are
Who is in the Team?
We are a small multi-disciplinary team, currently comprising of; a part-time Team Leader (0.6wte), Consultant Psychiatrist (0.5wte), Consultant Psychologist (0.2wte) and an Administrator (0.8wte), who are based within DHSCP Claverhouse Social Work Offices, Dundee.
We also have three full-time PNMH nurses who are based within existing CMHT bases, with 1 nurse assigned to cover each locality in Dundee, Angus and Perth & Kinross, and Clinical Psychology (0.8wte) across Tayside.
We also have three full-time PNMH nurses who are based within existing CMHT bases, with 1 nurse assigned to cover each locality in Dundee, Angus and Perth & Kinross, and Clinical Psychology (0.8wte) across Tayside.
Who should be considered for referral?
- Women/birthing parents experiencing Bipolar Disorder/ Postpartum Psychosis, other Psychoses and Serious Affective Disorders, who can be safely managed in the community.
- Women/birthing parents with severe non-psychotic conditions.
- Women/birthing parents identified in pregnancy who are at risk of a recurrence/relapse of a psychotic illness or serious/complex non-psychotic condition (includes women/ birthing parents who are currently unwell and those who are well but at risk of becoming unwell).
- Women/birthing parents requiring pre-conception counselling where previous family history (1st line relative) of severe mental illness esp. Bipolar Affective Disorder, Psychotic illness, Severe Affective Disorder, Post-Partum Psychosis.
- Women/birthing parents following discharge from an inpatient/Mother and Baby Unit admission.
The team will also accept referrals for:
- Women with significantly complex mental health problems whose needs cannot be effectively managed by primary care services.
- Women with alcohol/substance misuse problems, if there is also (or suspected) severe mental illness.
How to refer
The preferred referral route from primary care is electronically via SCI Gateway - the service is listed under Perinatal & Infant Mental Health Service. This is for routine or urgent referrals.
In cases of emergency/crisis referral, please contact us to discuss on PNMHT telephone 07971 981882.
The Tayside PNMHT will accept direct referrals from Midwives/Obstetricians, GPs, Health Visitors/Family Nurses, CMHT colleagues, Primary Care Psychology, In-Patients, CRHTT and other health professionals that may be involved in women’s/birthing parent’s care in the perinatal period. If SCI Gateway referral is unavailable, referral forms are available on Staffnet under ”P” on Perinatal Mental Health page.
Completed PNIMHT referral forms can be sent to our generic email address at TAY.perinatalinfantMHT@nhs.scot (our email is checked regularly Mon-Fri 9-5).
We cannot unfortunately accept self-referrals from women/birthing parents, and we would encourage women/birthing parents who have concerns regarding their mental wellbeing to discuss this with their Midwife/HV/GP or other healthcare professional, in the first instance, who can signpost/refer them to the appropriate support service(s).
In cases of emergency/crisis referral, please contact us to discuss on PNMHT telephone 07971 981882.
The Tayside PNMHT will accept direct referrals from Midwives/Obstetricians, GPs, Health Visitors/Family Nurses, CMHT colleagues, Primary Care Psychology, In-Patients, CRHTT and other health professionals that may be involved in women’s/birthing parent’s care in the perinatal period. If SCI Gateway referral is unavailable, referral forms are available on Staffnet under ”P” on Perinatal Mental Health page.
Completed PNIMHT referral forms can be sent to our generic email address at TAY.perinatalinfantMHT@nhs.scot (our email is checked regularly Mon-Fri 9-5).
We cannot unfortunately accept self-referrals from women/birthing parents, and we would encourage women/birthing parents who have concerns regarding their mental wellbeing to discuss this with their Midwife/HV/GP or other healthcare professional, in the first instance, who can signpost/refer them to the appropriate support service(s).
Alternatives to referral
If a clinician requires additional information/advice or wishes to discuss making a referral, please do not hesitate to contact us on 07971 981882 or via our email TAY.perinatalinfantMHT@nhs.scot
Additional information
Further information for staff, including Information Leaflets about the PNMHT for women/birthing parents, families and referrers, including our Referral Guidance, Referral Eligibility Criteria and our Referral Form are available on the Perinatal Mental Health Webpage under “P” on Staffnet.
Further information for the public is available on the NHST public facing website.
This includes our information leaflets, information about mental health conditions in the perinatal period, self-help information and links to a variety of different support services for women and families.
Further information for the public is available on the NHST public facing website.
This includes our information leaflets, information about mental health conditions in the perinatal period, self-help information and links to a variety of different support services for women and families.