Media releases and reports

Read COPE’s latest media releases & reports:

May 16, 2022:  Mornington Peninsula new mums receive world-first online mental health check to detect perinatal depression and anxiety.

Read full media release: Mornington Peninsula new mums receive world-first online mental health check

May 11, 2021: Expansion of iCOPE Digital Screening under the Commonwealth’s Perinatal Mental Health Check until July 2025. 

Read full media release: Expansion of iCOPE Digital Screening to identify vulnerable new and expectant parents.

September 17, 2020: Alarming rise in stillbirths highlights need for screening both physical and mental health during pregnancy.

Researchers are stressing the need for pregnant women to receive appropriate antenatal care after a number of studies have shown a significant rise in the number of pregnancies ending in stillbirth amid the pandemic.

Read full media release: Rise in stillbirths highlights need for screening both physical and mental health during pregnancy.

July 23, 2020: Community response to Victorian hospitals COVID-19 restrictions

In light of the overwhelming response from the COPE Community, action has been take to voice the needs of expectant parents.

Read full media release: Community response to Victorian hospitals COVID-19 restrictions

May 12, 2019: Coalition support for better mental and emotional health for Australian families commended

COPE commends the Coalition Government for their $36M commitment to ensure all Australian parents are offered screening and access to timely information.

Read full media release: 2019 Election commitment to perinatal mental health

May 4, 2019: The free resource all pregnant and new mums should know about.

Following the successful uptake of the Ready to COPE Guide amongst expectant and new mothers, COPE announces the outcomes and urges mums to signup to be informed and reassured throughout their pregnancy and first year of motherhood.

Read full media release: Ready to COPE

January 12,2018: Pregnant women and new mums in New South Wales get help for better mental and emotional wellbeing through new free fortnightly Ready to COPE e-newsletter.

The launch follows new research findings showing half of women in NSW have low awareness of mental health issues during pregnancy and many hid their true feelings from those close to them.

Read full media release: Ready to COPE Media Release_NSW

October 27, 2017: New perinatal mental health Clinical Practice Guideline released to support safer and healthier Australian mothers and families 

Launched at the Australasian Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health Conference in Brisbane, the Guideline will ensure safer and healthier Australian mothers and families by supporting health professionals in providing more effective approaches through evidence-based care.

Read full media release: New perinatal mental health Clinical Practice Guideline released

October 27, 2017: COPE welcomes new Federal Government funding for safer and healthier Australian mothers and families

Minister for Health the Hon Greg Hunt MP announced that COPE would receive $1.386 million in Federal funding over four years to fund better information, improved support and rapid local referral services to support the detection, prevention and treatment of perinatal mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Read full media release: COPE welcomes new Federal funding for safer and healthier mothers and families

October 26, 2017: Mums skydive and abseil for a great cause

This years MotherJumpers charity event will take place on November 11-12 wherein mums and their family and friends will skydive and abseil to raise funds for COPE.

Read full media release: Mums skydive for better perinatal mental health – 171026

November 6, 2014: Official Launch of the Centre of Perinatal Excellence

COPE officially launched on November 6 and is established as a unique not-for-profit has been established to support parents-to-be and new parents with the massive number of challenges and emotional/mental health issues they may face.

Read full media release: Official Launch of COPE – Media Release

April 2, 2014: The Cost of Untreated Perinatal Depression and Anxiety

Latest figures in an economic analysis conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) reveal the substantial and long lasting costs that could be incurred by untreated perinatal depression and anxiety.

Read full media release: Valuing Perinatal Mental Health – Media Release

Read PwC Report here: Valuing Perinatal Mental Health – PWC Report