As Mother’s Day approaches, shops are full of gifts for mothers: bubble bath products, chocolate and scented candles. But there is a ‘must-have’ that more mums need in their lives — affordable mental health support. 

Perinatal depression and anxiety impacts around 100,000 Australians each year (estimates for anxiety and depression are combined because many new parents experience symptoms of both.) 

In the first year after birth, postnatal depression (PND) affects one in five women, with symptoms including a sense of sadness or hopelessness, crying frequently for no clear reason, loss of interest in life, and not feeling attached to or bonded with their baby.

Despite the prevalence, an Australian study found that parents are still reluctant to seek help early enough due to a, “societal expectation on mums to be able to keep it all together.” There’s also the cost factor and a sense that finding a therapist is overwhelming. This is where the Gidget Foundation wants to bridge the knowledge gap.

Gidget Foundation Australia is a not-for-profit organisation, which exists to support the emotional well-being of expectant and new parents to ensure they receive timely, appropriate and specialist care. Since opening a ‘house’ in Shellharbour, they have been providing free, individual psychological counselling sessions for expectant and new mothers in the area.

Local mum of three, Lisa Carrick, has benefited from their services — which have no out-of-pocket charge for clients. After the birth of her third child, which coincided with the death of her grandmother, her mental health began to decline.

“I remember having a bath with my son,” recalls Carrick. “I was looking at him and felt nothing. I didn’t want to hold him. I was still catching up with friends, putting on a brave face, that everything was okay. But at home I was far from it. Why did I feel so empty?” 

After experiencing a panic attack whilst she was breastfeeding, she sought the advice of her GP, who referred her to a Gidget therapist.

“My psychologist was incredible,” says Carrick. “We discussed coping strategies, I started practising mindfulness, prioritised family time and started prioritising my own physical and mental well-being. How can we look after others when we are struggling ourselves?”

To access the Gidget Foundation’s free program, a mother needs to be registered with the service before their child is 12-months-old (although, as long as you are ‘on their books’ before your child is one, you can continue to access their services afterwards).

What about the parents of older children? The mental health charity, Beyond Blue provides a free and confidential mental health coaching program called NewAccess, which has recently increased its eligible areas to include Kiama. 

Katie Peterson is a Clinical Psychologist with the Gidget Foundation. She explains, “Mother’s Day celebrates the relationship between mothers and their children, and the joy parenting can bring but it is important to also acknowledge the challenges inherent in the motherhood journey, including the significance of grief and loss.”

As Mother’s Day approaches, one of the best gifts you can give a mum is reassurance that help is available and that she’s not alone.

For more information, visit gidgetfoundation.org.au.