Vision and mission

COPE's purpose is to prevent and improve the quality of life of those living with emotional and mental health problems that occur prior to and within the perinatal period.

How COPE can help

COPE achieves this through these strategic objectives:

• Support and advise a national framework for perinatal mental health: through working with the Commonwealth, states and territories, professional bodies and consumer organisations.
• Community awareness: COPE works with others to raise awareness of emotional and mental health conditions through innovative campaigns and strategies and the portrayal of lived-experience. COPE addresses the high rates of stigma that currently prevents disclosure and early help-seeking.
• Support best practice: through the development and dissemination of National Guidelines and resources
• Accredited online training programs for practitioners and families: online, accessible training facilitates education and resource provision for health professionals and families.
• Psycho-education: Ready to COPE Guide provides mental health information and preventative strategies via weekly email and app updates to ensure expectant and new parents have access to timely, relevant information throughout pregnancy and the first year.
• National data analytics: through the development of innovative screening and data management systems, COPE is working to facilitate national data collection, to inform the outcomes of screening and advise policy and service delivery.
• Integration with support services: COPE is committed to working with support services at a local, state or national level to respond to and support women and families in need. Through our eCOPE Directory, parents and health professionals can find access to timely and appropriately qualified perinatal mental health treatment and support services across the country.
• Research and advocacy: through working with world-leading experts, COPE will support the much-needed research required to build knowledge and bridge the gaps that currently exist in the provision of evidence-based screening and treatment practices.

All COPE resources are free and funded by the Commonwealth Government.

Programs and apps and tools

• Ready to COPE: Stay informed and feel reassured during pregnancy, birth and the first year of parenthood with the free Ready to COPE app
• eCOPE Directory: Find an accredited professional with perinatal mental health expertise on the eCOPE Directory
• Applied Skills in Perinatal Mental Health Assessment and Care: Underpinned by the 2023 National Perinatal Mental Health Guideline, this online training course has been designed for trained mental health professionals wishing to gain specialist expertise in perinatal mental health.
• Basic Skills in Perinatal Mental Health: Fully funded by the Commonwealth Government and informed by the 2023 Guideline, Mental Health in the Perinatal Period: Australian Clinical Practice Guideline, this free, comprehensive online training program is designed to provide health professionals with a practical overview of best practice.