COPE

The newest feature of the iCOPE digital screening platform is the inclusion of psychosocial education for every parent, at every screen.

Underpinned by the Australian National Clinical Guideline, the Ready to COPE guide provides supportive, evidence-based resources including mental health self-checks, fact sheets, plus pathways to specialist perinatal mental health support in the client’s local area.

This information is tailored to the individual’s perinatal stage, and is curated for fathers, mothers and non-birthing parents.

Learn more about best practice in perinatal mental health digital screening at: 🔗https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0-3Hq0

A reminder of Mental Health Professionals' Network upcoming webinar, which is being presented in partnership with Emerging Minds Australia.

Families navigating pregnancy, birth and the early months of parenting can face significant emotional, practical and system-related challenges.

This webinar will explore how lived experience workers are incorporated into infant mental health care, and how peer perspectives can be integrated into multidisciplinary practice when supporting infants, toddlers and their families.

🔗Register here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0Z2ls0

Nobody tells dads that the hardest part isn’t the sleepless nights — it’s the other things that often nobody talks about.

Here’s five things that new dads told us they didn’t know about navigating early fatherhood.

Sign up to COPE’s free Ready To COPE weekly guide, to feel informed and reassured throughout pregnancy and your first year of parenthood - 🔗readytocope.org.au

COPE’s Basic Skills is a free online perinatal mental health course, providing an overview of the National Perinatal Mental Health Guideline.

Complete at your own pace with ongoing access to all lessons and resources for the lifetime of the course.

Pre-accredited with ACM, ACMHN and RANZCOG for 12 hours of CPD, and fully funded by the Australian Government.

Learn more about this free training opportunity: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0Y_4W0

Infant mental health is often overlooked, yet the early years are critical for emotional and social development. This Infant Mental Health Week focuses on attunement - how responsive, connected relationships shape your baby's growth.

Secure attachment grows from the wordless emotional exchange between you and your baby: a smile, a hug, a calming presence. Research shows it builds your baby's sense of self, feeling of safety, and capacity to cope with distress.

Babies form attachments with parents and other significant carers - grandparents, siblings, childcare providers. These early relationships become a secure base from which your baby can explore the world, and a foundation for healthy relationships throughout their life.

Scroll for some strategies that can help strengthen the bond with your baby and enhance secure attachment. 🤍

🔗Learn more about bonding with your baby: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0Z2lw0

Many parents experience sudden, unwanted thoughts during pregnancy and early parenthood - and most never tell anyone.

The University of New South Wales is hosting an engagement event, Perinatal Intrusive Thoughts: Assessment and Safe Clinical Management.

The event will feature keynote speaker A/Prof Nichole Fairbrother - a global expert in perinatal intrusive thoughts of infant-related harm, alongside a panel of researchers, parents with lived experience, policy makers and clinicians - including COPE's Ariane Beeston.

This event is open to GPs, midwives, obstetricians, nurses, mental health professionals, researchers, and anyone working in maternal or child health, and will explore how to improve clinical practice, professional training, and public awareness in this under-recognised area.

🔗Register here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0WTSV0

“Nobody told me having a baby would be this hard - why can’t I do this?”

“I can’t remember when I last had unbroken sleep - I’m really struggling”

“Everyone else seems to have it together, so what’s the matter with me?”

“What if they take my baby if I tell them how I’m really feeling?”

For the 1 in 5 mums struggling to cope - we see you. You’re not alone. There is help and there is hope. 🤍

If you’d like to support COPE’s work, you can join our life-saving mission in 2026 by making a donation. Your generous gift will help us to:

-Continue vital screening for mums through the iCOPE 2.0 digital screening platform - ensuring early detection of perinatal mental health conditions, and pathways to support.

-Help fund world-leading research to inform the improvement of perinatal mental health detection, treatment and care.

-Allow us to expand our support programs for all hopeful, expectant and new parents.

Every donation helps us make a difference - https://donate.cope.org.au

Many people with postnatal anxiety disorders often describe feeling like they are ‘going crazy’ or ‘losing their mind’.

Symptoms can develop gradually over time, or come on suddenly and intensely. If not identified or treated, symptoms can worsen over time – even to the point where you feel the anxiety has ‘taken over’ and you cannot function.

Navigating those overwhelming feelings while managing the demands of a new baby may mean it’s more difficult to get on top of anxiety without professional help.

But you are not alone - anxiety is common - affecting up to 1 in 5 new mums, and up to 1 in 10 new dads.

The sooner you can get anxiety under control, the sooner you can improve your quality of life and your overall experience of parenthood.

If you are concerned about how you are feeling, take a free anxiety self-check: https://cope-org.quizzes.cx/dass-21-anxiety

Search the COPE Directory to find supports near you 🔗directory.cope.org.au

In line with the Australian National Perinatal Mental Health Guideline, iCOPE is the world's first digital screening platform with customised screening and reporting for fathers and non-birthing parents.

▶️Only iCOPE offers:
- Secure, private screening via a personal portal
- Adapted screening and assessment tools for fathers
-Instant personal reports and advice
-Built-in referral pathways to relevant supports
-Access to a customised digital dashboard for your practice with key insights and understanding of the clinical profile and needs of your clients

Contact us today to ensure you have access to best practice digital screening for all parents.