Repeat pandemic lock downs are hitting hard. We are experiencing uncertain and unsettling times in the light of COVID-19, and this can have concerning impact on families during pregnancy and after birth. Social isolation, extended wait lists and women living in regional communities can find it difficult to access traditional perinatal support services.

Heightened levels of stress during this time can make it difficult for expectant and new parents to fully experience the joy of having a baby and to deal effectively with stressors and mental health concerns that can arise during this time. The need to physically distance can also increase feelings of isolation and limit much needed support from family and the community for new parents. Given these very real difficulties, it has never been more important for expecting and new parents to care for themselves and their families.

The good news is that help is readily available straight away through MumSpace, a free suite of effective online programs and apps designed to connect parents quickly with the level of support they need, from advice and support in the transition to parenthood, to effective online treatment programs for perinatal depression and anxiety. The unique contributions to MumSpace by the Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) are evidence-based having been tested in Australian trials. MumSpace is Australia’s one-stop website supporting the mental health and emotional wellbeing of pregnant women, new mums and their families and is supported by funding from the Australian Government.

MumMoodBooster  is a world-leading free online program designed to help women anywhere in Australia who are experiencing antenatal depression, postnatal depression or anxiety. Mum2BMoodBooster is the pregnancy equivalent. Sessions are interactive, tailored to your needs and have been found to be highly effective by thousands of Australian women. Programs are based on best practice psychological treatment and are designed to deliver and compliment the benefits of face-to-face cognitive-behavioural treatment without needing to leave your home.

MumSpace includes the following free resources. 

• MindMum is a mobile phone app to help you cope at times of stress and provides useful tips and ideas to support your emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and after having baby. The MindMum app can be freely downloaded via MumSpace.
• What Were We Thinking! is an Australian website and mobile app that supports new mums and dads in learning practical skills for settling babies and adjusting to changes in their relationship with each other.
• Baby Steps provides information to parents on caring for baby and themselves to enhance the wellbeing of new mums and dads.

The resources on MumSpace will help mum’s undertake a stepped-care approach to whichever level of support suits them best. The programs available through MumSpace provide a valuable resource for healthcare professionals. The free tools are available online to help general practice better support mums and dads experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety.

MumSpace has been developed by the Perinatal Depression e-Consortium (PDeC), led by the Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) in partnership with Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA), Monash University, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health and Queensland University of Technology.

The online resources and apps available through MumSpace are evidence-based and have been evaluated by the PDeC partners in research studies conducted here in Australia. MumSpace is supported by funding from the Australian Government.

For more information, please visit www.mumspace.com.au and www.piri.org.au