The first 12 months of your baby’s life is tough on mums and families. If you’re feeling anxious or depressed, you’re not alone. One in five expecting or new mums feel the same. There is help available.
We’ve partnered with two of Australia’s leading perinatal mental health organisations to support new mums. Check out helpful resources from PANDA and Gidget Foundation Australia below.
PANDA – Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia – supports the mental health of parents and families during pregnancy and in their first year of parenthood.
PANDA operates Australia’s only National Helpline for individuals and their families that provides access to counselling and information to assist with perinatal anxiety and depression recovery.
Their Helpline, 1300 726 306, operates Monday to Friday (and public holidays) from 9am – 7:30pm AEST and is staffed by trained and experienced counsellors and volunteers.
Or visit their Resource page.
Everyone’s experience of pregnancy, birth and parenting is unique and brings different rewards and challenges. PANDA’s online mental health checklist can help you to see if what you’re experiencing or observing in a loved one could be reason to seek help.
Go to checklist
Gidget Foundation Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to support the emotional wellbeing of expectant and new parents, to ensure they receive timely, appropriate and specialist care. Gidget Foundation Australia provides a range of clinical treatment programs including individual psychological consultations via face to face or telehealth, group treatment and early intervention screening.
Or visit their Fact sheets page.
Call 000 for police and ambulance if you or someone else are in immediate danger.
If you are having suicidal thoughts or are feeling disorientated, it’s important to get help immediately. For immediate support call
Lifeline 13 11 14 (available 24/7)
At least one in five women experience anxiety, depression, or both during pregnancy and often for a year or more after delivery. We speak to an expert, a new mother, and a grandmother about how to recognise the signs and when to seek help.
For more information, head to our page on Postnatal depression within the Mental & emotional wellbeing section of the Jean Hailes website.
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