Women's Mental Health Clinic

Why women’s mental health?

Women’s mental health has been overlooked as a special area of mental health requiring specifically tailored understanding and treatment for women suffering with a variety of mental illnesses. Medicine has remained somewhat 'gender blind' to date, and diagnoses plus treatments are often based on the archetypical patient being a caucasian male. This often disservices women who need consideration of their biological, gender role and different responses to treatment. 

The women’s mental health clinic provides tertiary consultation in the form of second opinions by expert psychiatrists and psychologists for women with a variety of psychiatric disorders. In particular the impact of hormonal changes and other reproductive factors are carefully considered in the management of mental illnesses. 

Women with disorders such as perimenopausal depression, menstrual cycle related mood disturbances, schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and many other illnesses are offered innovative treatments utilising hormone modulation techniques and other new approaches.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mode of consultation

The main aim of the clinic is to provide an overview of the woman’s current mental state and functioning, diagnosis and past treatments, and to offer suggestions for new or different treatments. We aim to use a biopsychosocial or holistic approach to really help the whole woman and her family. To do this, we spend at least one hour with each woman, discussing her history and her observations and views about her illness and previous treatments. We are also keen to involve family members in the consultation – but only if she wishes. A letter summarising the consultation is then sent to the referring doctor and a copy is also sent to the woman. We are also happy to send a copy of the letter to other health professionals, involved in the woman’s treatment  - but only with her permission.

We aim to empower the woman by listening to her - thereby validating her observations, discussing treatment options and providing educational material plus offering an opportunity to participate in research studies if she wishes. 

We also aim to assist her treating team by providing a second opinion, the latest research information and new options for treatment. We do not take over the management of the woman, but hope to add to her treatment program.

Referral to the clinic

Women seeking a second opinion require a referral from a general practitioner, or other medical practitioner, or from other mental health practitioners. 

The Women’s Mental Health clinic runs once per week on Wednesday mornings.

Referrals may be sent directly to the clinic via fax or email (listed below). Once a referral has been received the patient will be placed on the waiting list. Please note the clinic currently has a waiting list of several months. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated. 

Clinic staff

- Professor Jayashri Kulkarni AM

- Dr Jennifer Babb (Consultant Psychiatrist)

Psychiatry Registrars

- Medical Officers

- Medical Students

Clinic location

HER Centre Australia / MAPrc Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre
Level 4
607 St Kilda Rd
Melbourne 3004
 

Enquiries

For any enquiries regarding the clinic please contact the Women’s Mental Health clinic coordinator Ms Marie Iglesias. If you are contacting the clinic out of hours, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible. Alternatively you may leave a message via the email below.

Women’s Mental Health clinic coordinator contact days: Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Tel:  03 9076 9895
Fax: 03 9903 0762
Email: HCA-wmhc@monash.edu

 

 

 MAPrc Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Level 4, 607 St Kilda Road, Melbourne 3004

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