Perinatal Mental Health Week is a time to raise awareness and collaborate to ensure that parents in need know that they are not alone. 1 in 5 new mums and 1 in 10 new dads experience perinatal depression and anxiety, which is around 100,000 Australian parents each year.
Collaboration is at the heart of this important week. So we are proud to be working together. This year has been incredibly challenging. We are united in ensuring expectant and new parents know… We’re here, we see you.
If you know a new or expectant parent there are many ways to offer support. It can be hard to know where to start. One idea is to simply ask “How they are going?” and then listen really well. The earlier the intervention the better the outcome for all.
It can be tough to watch your daughter or son adjust to parenthood if you see them being unsettled. You could reflect on your own experience as a way to open up discussion with them or tell them about what they were like as a baby whilst always encouraging openness and honesty and offering them reassurance at the same time. Asking what they need might also be helpful and just being there in any way you can.
Getting your friend out for a walk or coffee and talking at the same time might be useful. Check in often, offer times to connect and give them space to respond. If you can ask them “How is it going being a parent?” or share a funny story of your own might encourage them to open up. Validate their feelings and listen well.
A weekly catch up where there are limited interruptions might be a good time to really ask how your partner is going, You could each do this as regular check in. Timing is important and making sure you can offer support, ideas, or just a good listening ear. Sometimes you just need someone to be there and ask the question. Phones away for this time to connect!
If you notice changes in yourself then take some quiet time, reflect on how you are feeling and be patient with yourself as you settle into this new parenting space. Recognise and label the emotions. If what you normally do is not helping you feel better, then reach out to a trusted friend or family member to get more support. Stay connected with others and make a plan.
Provides counselling and clinical psychology services to support pregnant women and couples, new parents, and bereaved parents.
The Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium is a collaboration of researchers, practitioners and policy makers. We exist to advance the science of fatherhood, inform practice and policy that supports men and their families, and promote healthy inclusion of fathers in family life.
Peer-led community dedicated to helping Australian and New Zealanders prevent and heal from birth-related trauma. We do this through advocacy, education, research and peer-led support.
Provides leading support and care for families who experience the loss of their baby.
The unit assists mothers to adapt to the biological, psychological and social aspects of their disorder in a supportive and responsive environment. It also helps women experiencing mood disorders including anxiety and depression, in both pregnancy and postnatally.
Provides expectant fathers with tools and resources to support them and their families.
Supports parents and infants with planning, pregnancy, postpartum and parenting.
Provides information via the Ready to COPE Guide and links to support and treatment services via the e-COPE Directory.
Offers new and expecting fathers a father-facilitated place to connect, learn, share or ask questions about fatherhood.
DadSpace provides support for the emotional health of dads who are expecting or have a new baby.
Provides free psychological support through specialist face to face and telehealth counselling services as well as group therapy.
Provides evidence-based, easy to understand information on male health and advocates for change to empower men and boys to prioritise their health.
Provides high quality care for women through clinics in Melbourne and focusses on health, education, research and policy for women’s healthcare.
Supports parents with young children with free services for sleep, settling, feeding, routines, toddler behaviour and perinatal mental health.
Provides peer support and evidence- based resources for early parenting, sleep and settling, focusing on empowered parents and whole-family wellbeing.
MumSpace supports the mental health and emotional wellbeing of pregnant women, new mums and their families.
Supports expecting and new parents through the free National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline (9:00am to 7:30pm Monday to Friday AEST).
Supports parent wellbeing and infant development (conception to 2 years) through research and evidence based treatments.
Provides free peer-led mental health support, parenting programs and community groups to support families throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond.
Provides ongoing telephone counselling, psycho educational groups, facilitated Playgroup, free adjunct childcare and a variety of workshops.
Provides the latest resources, information and peer-support for anyone impacted by miscarriage and early pregnancy loss.
Our charity offers health professionals the opportunity to upskill in Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC), also known as the Possums programs. NDC offers the latest evidence-based approaches to breastfeeding, cry-fuss problems, sleep and maternal mood, developed out of 15 years of research.
Information and advice from pregnancy through to preschool available online, over the phone on 1800 882 436 (7am to midnight AET, 7 days a week) and by video call. Funded by the Australian Federal Government.
Connects parents to services in the South West of Australia to support emotional wellbeing during early parenthood.
Red Nose supports families with essential education and advice, and when a baby dies we offer vital bereavement support, including professional counselling and peer support services.
Provides infant safe sleep education and free professional bereavement support to parents who suddenly suffer the tragedy of having a baby or child die (conception to 6 years).
Provides new fathers with information and connections to online services through their mobile phones.
Provides perinatal mental health services for mothers, baby and their partners experiencing mental health issues throughout the perinatal period.
Still Aware provide support and evidence based education in pregnancy to enhance perinatal wellbeing and help reduce stillbirth risk and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Supports the stillbirth community through funding research, advocacy and creating a supportive network for parents, family and friends.
The Australasian Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health aims to support the Australasian perinatal mental health community to develop high quality research and clinical care.
Provides evidence-based online programs to manage stress, anxiety, and low mood during pregnancy and the postnatal period.
Provides professional advice, education and guidance to families with a baby, toddler or pre-schooler.
Provides advice and education that supports babies, toddlers and their families to strengthen attachment and mental health & build parenting skills and confidence.
If you’re a parent living with PNDA, take a moment to consider one theme each day this week,
and see if there is someone you can talk to about them.
By: Rheanna Lotter
Rheanna Lotter is a proud Yuin woman and founder of Ngandabaa (Yun-Da-Baa; named after her grandfather Keith Thorne). Growing up in Willow Vale in the NSW Southern Highlands, Rheanna now lives and works in Western Sydney. Rheanna has supported many companies and clients across Australia to showcase modern and contemporary Aboriginal Art, sharing culture in unique ways and creating artworks for all Australians to enjoy. Rheanna has worked with various organisations with bespoke artworks including Gidget Foundation Australia, the AFL and Boeing and recently designed the 2021 Australian Paralympic team uniforms.
