Help for Mums is at hand

“Helping Mums is paramount”, were the words used by Hon Nick Goiran MLC,  Member for the South Metropolitan Region, “Every Mum wants what is best for her children and I applaud the Minister for Mental Health on the two excellent initiatives launched this week to support Mothers and help strengthen their ability to nurture their children”

Mental Health Minister Graham Jacobs opened the Saranna Women and Children’s program last Wednesday, which provides a specialist therapeutic community to tackle alcohol and drug issues whilst providing parenting support.

 “The Saranna Program is Western Australia’s first residential therapeutic community specifically for women and children affected by alcohol and drug use,” Dr Jacobs said, “And ensures mothers and children are kept together during this important time, increasing the success of the treatment and improving their wellbeing.”

 The six new housing units that were opened, together with the eight existing units means the program can accommodate up to 14 families at one time.

 In addition to helping mothers overcome alcohol and drug problems, the program helps support children, strengthen the relationship between mother and child, reunite and strengthen families and build resilience and skills.

 The Liberal-National Government is committed to supporting holistic treatment initiatives like the Saranna Women and Children’s program and the Healthy Mother-Infant Relationship Initiative that was also launched this week.

 The Healthy Mother-Infant Relationship Initiative was developed by the North Metropolitan Area Health Service’s Clinical Application Unit.

Mental Health Minister Dr Graham Jacobs said the resource was a practical framework and risk assessment resource to help mental health clinicians, GPs, hospital staff and community health clinics all work together to improve the care of women with mental illness.

“As a father, I recognise that the birth of a baby is a very joyous time, but it can also be a very stressful time and the pressure that a new Mum finds herself under can be enormous”, said Hon Nick Goiran MLC.

 Research had shown that where the mother-baby relationship was disrupted, babies could develop significant emotional, learning and developmental disorders.

 “The benefits are wide ranging”, Dr Jacobs said, “and the quicker we can identify that a new mother is experiencing problems, the faster we can offer effective care and treatment options, and the sooner mother, baby and their family can happily move forward.”