Internationally renowned expert on postpartum depression Associate Professor Anne Buist will head the National Postpartum and Depression Program—Prevention and Early Intervention.

Associate Professor Buist is the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre’s Director of Adult Psychiatry and Clinical Director of Banksia House Mother Baby Unit.

The National Postpartum and Depression Program—Prevention and Early Intervention is funded by the national depression initiative beyondblue.

The project aims to screen almost 100,000 women over three years to develop and evaluate a national screening and early intervention program for women at risk of antenatal and postnatal depression.

Through increased awareness the program will target stigma and help women and health professionals in the early identification and access of services to prevent long term complications.

As it is a national program, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales will also look at specific issues.

These will include education/support of midwives, maternal child health nurses and general practitioners, addressing issues for rural women in accessing services and specific interventions to optimise couple-interaction and the male partner’s ability to support his depressed wife.

There will also be a special focus on the needs of women from culturally and diverse language backgrounds and Aboriginal women—sensitively exploring the experience of antenatal and postnatal depression in these groups and provision of appropriate education and support.

Associate Professor Buist said postpartum depression affects some 14 per cent of women giving birth in Australia.

‘At a time most couples expect to be joyous, some instead find themselves bewildered and distraught.

‘Women may look at other mothers who appear to have made the step to motherhood effortlessly and consider themselves a failure.

‘Their partners are often uncertain what the problem is or how to best to help,’ Associate Professor Buist said.

‘There is also a longer-term cost.

‘Evidence suggests the children of depressed mothers have a higher risk of cognitive and behavioural difficulties, as well as impairment in later mental health, implicating health and educational costs for many years and potentially intergeneration transmission.

‘Research suggests many of these women can be identified during their pregnancies as well in the early postnatal phase with the use of well-established screening measures.

‘Improving community and professional awareness of the potential difficulties postpartum and of what help is available, as well as ensuring that the right help is given, are all important steps in preventing or minimising the impact of postpartum depression,’ Associate Professor Buist said.

Australia is a world leader in research on postpartum depression.

The leading international postpartum depression association, the Marce Society, which consists of clinicians, self-help groups and researchers, has its largest branch in Australia.

The current president is Australian.

The National and Victorian initiatives were launched at the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre.

The launch included the opening of the Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI).

Headed by Professor Jeannette Milgrom, PIRI aims to become the pre-eminent body conducting research into parent-infant difficulties including prematurity, risk screening and early intervention following postnatal depression.

PIRI will also provide and evaluate model services for intervening with infants in distress.

PIRI is an incorporated body with an advisory board and is located at the Repatriation Campus of the Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre.

• For further information about the National Postpartum Depression Program contact National Project Officer Justin Bilszta at justin.bilszta@armc.org.au.