The 22nd of June is International Fathers’ Mental Health Day. 1 in 10 new or expectant dads experience perinatal anxiety or depression in Australia and over 40% of first-time dads believe postnatal depression and anxiety is a sign of weakness. Man vs. Mood is a world-first, specialised web-based treatment for depressed or anxious new fathers, developed by the team at PIRI. This program will be based on the cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach of our successful MumMoodBooster treatment program for new mums. Read More...

“I knew I’d lose sleep, but I didn’t expect to feel so exhausted!” Quote from a new father
Parenthood is a time of transition requiring both mothers and fathers to adapt to new roles, demands and responsibilities. Parents need to continue to make changes to their life to accommodate their own changing needs, those of their baby and partner. This constant demand for adaptation can be draining on energy and resources and leave both mother and father exhausted and in some cases depressed and anxious. Read more...

Mother’s Day was an important event for new and expectant mums. We hope amidst the distance and challenging times that you were still able to connect with your loved ones. At PIRI, we understand you may feel concerned about COVID-19. We’ve taken the time to put together some tips to help new and expectant parents cope with the current situation.

PIRI is partnering with the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth to deliver this important Summit in Melbourne on the 11th and 12th of March, 2020. Professor Jeannette Milgrom, PIRI's Executive Director will join thought leaders and panellists and provide a Closing Address on Day 1. PIRI staff Jennifer Ericksen and Catherine Acton will have an active role in synthesizing themes that arise.
The Summit 2020, will aim to involve delegates to provide a blueprint for early childhood wellbeing for the next 10+ years.Read more...

The team led by the Parent Infant Research Institute (PIRI) at Austin Health received the ‘Minister for Health's Award for improving maternal, child and family health' Read more...

PIRI researchers were among the first to point to the wider negative repercussions of perinatal depression and anxiety. A new health-economic analysis prepared by PwC, The cost of perinatal depression and anxiety in Australia, has just been released. Read more...

Watch this Webinar which is designed to review the impact of perinatal psychological distress and mood disorders and increase participants understanding of ways in which distress can be prevented, detected and treated. Read more...

The Global Alliance for Maternal Mental Health (GAMMH) is a coalition of international organisations committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of women and their children in pregnancy and the first postnatal year (the ‘perinatal period’) throughout the world. PIRI’s Professor Jeannette Milgrom is on the steering committee of GAMMH in her role as Immediate Past President of the International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health. Read more...

Motivational Interviewing Improves Help-seeking for Postnatal Depression and Anxiety. Results showed that training MCHNs in MI was feasible and valued. Read more...

Feasibility and pilot RCT studies of a therapeutic playgroup for mother experiencing postnatal mental health difficulties, showed that our CHUGS program was well-received by mums and produced significant benefits for mothers' mental health and the mother-infant relationship.