Assess the mother/birthing parent-infant interaction as an integral part of perinatal care and refer to the infant mental health or parent and infant relationship service as available and appropriate.

 

Seek guidance and support from multicultural health workers, if available, when assessing mother/birthing parent-infant interaction in migrant, refugee and culturally and linguistically diverse women, to ensure that assessment is person and culturally appropriate, and not informed by unconscious bias.

 

Consider the potential additional needs of young mothers/birthing parents when assessing mother/birthing parent-infant interactions to ensure that assessment is person and age appropriate, and not informed by unconscious bias.

 

Assess the risk of harm to the infant if significant difficulties are observed with the mother/birthing parent-infant interaction, the woman/birthing parent discloses that they are having thoughts of harming their infant and/or there is concern about the mother/birthing parent’s mental health.