Access to mental health services for rural and remote mums in WA boosted through new partnership

Women’s Health & Wellbeing Services (WHWS) has partnered with Motherland, to boost mental health support for isolated mothers across rural and remote parts of Western Australia. WHWS gained funding through the Women’s Grants for Stronger Future 2023 to deliver its “Empowering Marginalised Women’s Wellness Fund” project. The initiative aims to address a critical issue facing women in WA – the need for affordable and accessible mental health therapy services, via telehealth.

Through its partnership with Motherland, which supports rural mothers across the country, isolated women will be able to access no-gap therapy, and while a GP Mental Health Care Plan (MCHCP) isn’t required for the program, it is encouraged.

“We know that women who are isolated, for whatever reason, are less likely to have access to a GP and therefore are less likely to have access to a mental health care plan. There are so many barriers to people accessing therapy and we want to do all that we can to reduce those barriers. Lack of access to a mental health care plan is a huge barrier that we have been able to overcome with this grant,” said Women’s Health & Wellbeing Services CEO, Emma Basc.

Motherland will work with its extensive network of rural mothers across WA to raise awareness of mental health and inform its community of the WHWS program. Eligible women will be supported through fortnightly individual telehealth counselling sessions, with a cycle of 10 appointments lasting from 4-6 months.

“Isolation is a leading health risk factor for women living in rural and remote communities, and Motherland knows first hand how critical it is for rural mothers to have adequate access to mental health support when they need it most. Telehealth is vital to enabling this, and we are so pleased to support WHWS to further both our missions” said Motherland Founder & CEO Stephanie Trethewey.

“We are thrilled to partner with Motherland to extend our support to vulnerable and disadvantaged women, children, and families throughout Western Australia. By combining our resources and expertise, we aim to strengthen the emotional wellbeing of rural mothers and improve mental health outcomes across Australia,” said Rebecca McCready, Stakeholder Engagement & Triage Officer, Women’s Health & Wellbeing Services.

Women’s Health and Wellbeing Services (formerly known as Gosnells Women’s Health Services) and their sister organisation, the WA Centre for Perinatal Mental Health & Parenting Support, specialise in supporting women, families and children’s mental and emotional health across WA. They offer individual, couples, family and children’s counselling as well as parenting programs, groups and courses.

Isolated women can access the WHWS no gap therapy counselling program through an easy online self-referral: using “Motherland” in the referral field.