Objective: Developments in public mental health policy in Australia and a renewed focus on the preventative importance of the early postnatal years have recently brought perinatal mental health to the fore. The present paper aims to explore the meaning of ‘perinatal mental health’ and its relevance to psychiatry, and to examine the opportunities and challenges currently facing Australian psychiatrists in the provision of services in the perinatal period. Methods: The definition of ‘perinatal mental health’ is discussed and the impact of maternal mental illness arising in the ‘perinatal’ period on offspring outcomes and early intervention endeavours are reviewed. Recent Australian developments in public health policy are outlined. Results: The use of the term ‘perinatal’ highlights the importance of considering the mental health needs of both parents and infants from conception and through the developmentally critical first 2 years of life. The relevance of a perinatal approach is supported by a literature demonstrating that maternal mental illness arising at this time can adversely affect offspring mental health outcomes. Early intervention programmes targeted at well-defined ‘h
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