UQ research puts spotlight on perinatal mental health

Led by Professor Brenda Gannon from the School of Economics, in collaboration with the Mater Research Institute and Queensland Family Cohort Study’s Professor Vicki Clifton, the research team will develop a comprehensive family mental health registry.

Professor Gannon said family mental wellbeing in the perinatal period often goes undetected and untreated, causing a significant burden on mothers, fathers and their families.

“Current estimates of approximately 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men experiencing anxiety and depression in the perinatal period are likely underestimated and do not provide sufficient information about health care needs,” Professor Gannon said.

“This gap in data prevents Australia from identifying the frequency, drivers and associated costs of family mental wellbeing and unmet care needs.

“The registry will consolidate data on healthcare use and costs and identify unmet family-related mental health clinical and support needs to immediately inform clinical strategies.”

The state-based Perinatal Family Mental Health Registry, made possible following funding from the Queensland Mental Health Commission Better Futures Grant Scheme, will provide new insights into the mental health care use and costs for families in the perinatal period.

The Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic welcomed the initiative, highlighting its alignment with the Commission’s long-standing commitment to early intervention and integrated care.

“The perinatal period presents a vital opportunity to support the mental health and wellbeing of Queensland families," he said.

“This registry builds on the Commission’s commitment to early intervention and integrated care, ensuring emotional wellbeing is treated with the same priority as physical health.

“By embedding lived experience and strengthening data-driven approaches, we’re helping to shape a more responsive and inclusive mental health system for parents, infants and communities.”

Professor Clifton said the data will help to provide information on unmet needs and additional information on resources required.

The research team will work closely with Catherine’s House for Mothers, Babies and Families – the state’s first perinatal mental health centre - and will make use of iCOPE digital mental health screening.

The research will contribute to state and national policy and clinical guidelines, as well as provide a future perinatal mental health service model based on current needs of families, including the Queensland Government’s 5-year mental health plan, Shifting Minds.

Collaboration and acknowledgements