Supporting families through evidence-based digital treatment

Many women and men experience depression, anxiety or emotional distress during the transition to parenthood. However, accessing timely psychological treatment can be challenging due to cost, availability, location, and the practical demands of caring for a new baby.

The Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) has developed a suite of free, evidence-based online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programs that provide structured psychological treatment options for families during pregnancy and early parenthood.

Understanding why specialised perinatal mental health care matters is an important part of understanding how these programs complement broader mental health pathways.

Mum2BMoodBooster and MumMoodBooster provide free, evidence-based online CBT treatment for women experiencing depression or anxiety during pregnancy or after birth. DadBooster provides a free, private online CBT treatment option for fathers experiencing depression, anxiety or emotional distress after the birth of a baby.

PIRI’s online CBT programs

Mum2BMoodBooster and MumMoodBooster are designed specifically for women experiencing depression or anxiety during pregnancy or after having a baby. Both programs provide a structured six-session CBT treatment with interactive activities, practical strategies, mood monitoring and progress tracking.

DadBooster is a six-session online CBT program developed specifically for fathers. It provides practical strategies to manage low mood, stress and emotional challenges following the birth of a baby, while allowing fathers to complete treatment privately and at their own pace.

How health professionals can use the programs

Health professionals can engage with PIRI’s programs in two ways, depending on their role, clinical workflow and the level of involvement they wish to provide.

1. Recommend the program directly

Health professionals can recommend Mum2BMoodBooster, MumMoodBooster or DadBooster as part of usual care. People can register independently and begin treatment without clinician registration. This pathway provides a simple way to offer an evidence-based treatment option while continuing usual clinical support where appropriate.

2. Use the optional Clinician Portal

For health professionals who wish to provide supported referral and monitor progress over time, the optional Clinician Portal provides additional oversight for Mum2BMoodBooster and MumMoodBooster. Through the Clinician Portal, registered health professionals can refer women using a unique referral code, access screening summaries, review program engagement and receive structured progress reports. The Portal is designed to support collaborative care and does not replace clinical assessment or usual care responsibilities.

Choosing the right level of involvement

The level of clinician involvement can vary depending on the needs of the person being supported and the clinician’s role. Some health professionals may simply recommend the programs as an accessible treatment option, while others may prefer the additional oversight available through the Clinician Portal. This flexibility allows digital CBT treatment to be integrated into existing care pathways in a way that suits individual practice settings and clinical approaches.

Integrating the programs into service and referral pathways

PIRI’s online CBT programs can be incorporated into stepped-care and referral pathways across primary care, perinatal health and mental health services.

They may be suitable for parents experiencing depression or anxiety who could benefit from structured psychological treatment and do not require immediate crisis support. The programs may also provide an option for people waiting to begin face-to-face treatment, seeking support between appointments as part of their ongoing care, or experiencing barriers to attending appointments.

Services can incorporate the programs into their existing pathways by:

• including them in referral directories and stepped-care models;
• recommending them during assessment, care planning or routine perinatal screening;
• providing direct links through service websites and patient information;
• using the optional Clinician Portal for supported referral and progress monitoring;
• continuing usual clinical care alongside the online treatment where appropriate.

Implementation can be adapted to the service. Some organisations may simply make the programs available as a referral option, while others may establish a supported pathway using the Clinician Portal. PIRI can provide program information, referral resources and guidance to help services introduce the programs into existing care pathways.

Clinical safety and monitoring

PIRI’s programs include monitoring of symptoms and wellbeing throughout treatment. Where significant changes in symptoms or safety concerns are identified, the programs provide guidance to users to seek additional support.

Registered clinicians using the Mum2BMoodBooster and MumMoodBooster Clinician Portal can receive relevant notifications to support continuity of care.

The programs are evidence-based digital treatments designed to complement appropriate clinical care. They are not crisis services and should be used alongside usual clinical pathways when additional assessment or support is required.

Why consider digital CBT in perinatal care?

PIRI’s programs provide health professionals with an additional evidence-based treatment option that can be integrated into existing perinatal care pathways. Digital CBT can help overcome barriers such as location, availability and the practical challenges of attending regular face-to-face appointments during pregnancy and early parenthood. By offering structured psychological treatment online, these programs provide families with flexible access to evidence-based support when and where it is needed.

Getting started

Health professionals can recommend PIRI’s online treatment programs or register for the optional Clinician Portal to support referral and progress monitoring.

MumMoodBooster and Mum2BMoodBooster online treatments:
www.mumspace.com.au/online-treatments

DadBooster online treatment:
www.dadspace.com.au/programs/dadbooster

PIRI research and clinical programs:
www.piri.org.au

Brochures and referral information:
MumMoodBooster Program Guide Brochure (A4) →
Clinician Portal Guide Brochure (A4) →
Clinician Portal Referral Guide (A4) →
DadSpace and DadBooster Brochure (A4) →
Digital Perinatal Mental Health Ecosystem Overview (A4) →