By Jordan Doherty
A digital maternal mental health screening program trialled in Brimbank is being rolled out around Australia in a bid to identify mums at risk of perinatal depression and anxiety.
Brimbank council’s Maternal and Child Health Service was the first in Australia to trial the Centre of Perinatal Excellence’s iCOPE application.
The council’s MCH service conducted more than 10,000 iCOPE screens as part of the trial.
The iCOPE screening program means all local mums have access to regular mental health screening throughout their perinatal journey.
According to the Centre for Perinatal Experience (COPE), the sooner the symptoms are detected, the faster the treatment can begin.
COPE founder and executive director and psychologist Nicole Highet said brimbank has been a standout leader among health services across Australia with its early adoption and championing of the iCOPE screening platform.
“One of the big gaps in advancements of detecting mothers at risk, was seeing the way screening was being done face to face and the results it was getting,” she said.
Brimbank mayor Bruce Lancashire said council was thrilled to have trialled iCOPE and looked forward to continuing to screen very new parent in its care.
“Perinatal anxiety and depression is a serious issue facing our community. Brimbank’s Maternal and Child Health Service supports more than 2800 babies per year, so the iCOPE screening tool is making a real difference for our community, allowing our service to continue to offer new parents with the best possible care and mental health support,” he said.
“ We’re proud to have been Australia’s first maternal and child health service to take part in the early iCOPE clinical trials, and so happy to see that due to the success of trials conducted across the country, iCOPE is
now a national program.”
From next week, iCOPE will be available to 25 languages, languages, allowing patients from culturally diverse backgrounds can complete the screen and receive their own personal report in their preferred language.
“With more than 48 per cent of Brimbank residents born overseas, this is extremely beneficial as almost half of the new mothers in Brimbank will benefit from completing the screen in their preferred language,” Dr Highet said.
