Question 1

Appropriate Referrals

Accepted Answer

Mums Matter Psychology provides services to women and men throughout the perinatal period, from conception up until the child is four years old.

We support those experiencing, or at risk of developing, mild to moderate perinatal depression, anxiety or stress-related disorders. Support is also provided after birth trauma or pregnancy related loss.

To ensure families receive the most appropriate and specialised care, we are unable to accept referrals where the primary concerns include:

- current or enduring psychotic illness
- long-standing suicidal or homicidal ideation or suicide attempts without psychiatric support
- current child protection issues without case management support
- current alcohol or other drug abuse without Drug and Alcohol service support

Question 2

General Practitioners, private psychiatrists and paediatricians

Accepted Answer

If your patient is suffering from a mental health condition, you can complete a Mental Health Care Plan along with a referral letter which you provide to the patient directly.

Your patient can access the Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual sessions in the calendar year and be bulk billed for up to 20 sessions in total. A gap fee applies after 20 sessions.

If a Mental Health Care Plan is not indicated, patients can still access the service for a fee and may be eligible for a private health insurance rebate.

Question 3

Other health or community professionals

Accepted Answer

Your patient or client will require a Mental Health Care Plan from a GP, private psychiatrist or paediatrician to access the Medicare rebate and bulk billing.

Please note Mums Matter Psychology is not a crisis service. If your patient is experiencing severe distress or contemplating suicide, advise them to go to the closest Hospital Emergency Department, call 000 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

For phone support and counselling, please have them call the Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia helpline on 1300 726 306.