A model for the provision of integrated perinatal and infant mental health services in regional settings.

<bold>Objective: </bold>This paper aims to describe current approaches in Victoria to the development of perinatal and infant mental health services in regional areas.<bold>Method: </bold>The paper outlines the significance of perinatal mental disorder for maternal wellbeing and impact on infant development, and describes the model of care at the Agnes Unit.<bold>Results: </bold>The Agnes Unit has been established as a residential therapeutic unit offering short-term treatment that focusses on promoting parental mental health, parenting sensitivity and the parent-infant relationship.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>A coordinated and integrated approach with focus on early intervention is needed to deliver perinatal and infant mental health services. Services need to focus on the infant and parent-infant relationship in addition to parental mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]