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.
This week (17 – 23 November) is Perinatal Mental Health Week “ a time to recognise that the transition into parenthood can be tough, but support is available.
About Gidget House
Gidget Foundation Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to support the mental health of expectant, new and potential parents to ensure they receive accessible, timely and specialist care.
Gidget House locations provide free individual psychological counselling services delivered face-to-face. Gidget Houses are accessible and provide compassionate holistic care for expectant and new parents and their families. Support is also provided to people who have experienced a pregnancy or childbirth-related loss, such as stillbirth, miscarriage, or termination, within the last 12 months.
How WNSW PHN helps Gidget House (Mudgee) do what they do best
WNSW PHN’s funding allows Gidget House Mudgee to have a qualified clinician on site to provide support and treatment to clients that have been referred to the service.
Client story
Gidget House Mudgee has a client who has now completed 8 of 10 sessions with their Mental Health Social Worker. This client came to Gidget House because she was dealing with emotional struggles associated with her fertility treatment and infertility, the impact this was having on her daily functioning, work, and relationships, and the difficulty she experienced managing expectations and hope.
Over the course of her support sessions, the client has developed effective coping strategies for fertility treatment and monthly cycles. She’s experienced improved emotional regulation and resilience, enhanced relationships with her partner and support network, clarified her core values and aligned actions with these values, and increased her ability to manage uncertainty and find hope.
“I really want to apply the strategies about anxiety of fertility next steps, to all the anxiety about milestones of pregnancy.
This client is now just over 8 weeks pregnant, and will continue working on strategies and psychoeducation with her Mental Health Social Worker at Gidget House Mudgee to address anxiety symptoms related to pregnancy after infertility.
Find out more about this service on our website, or visit Gidget Foundation Australia.
