A new Gidget house has opened in Lismore to support parents struggling with mental health.
With one quarter (24%) of parents in regional New South Wales needing the most support between 3-12 months after birth, a new service officially opens for people experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety.
Parents across the Northern Rivers region can now access GP-referred, free specialist perinatal counselling sessions at the new Gidget House located at Tresillian Lismore Family Care Centre.
New data from Gidget Foundation Australia reveals one in two parents living in regional New South Wales are lacking both emotional and practical support from their family and friends, while one in three felt a loss of identity in most aspects of their life after having a baby.
To support parents struggling with early parenthood, this service offers face-to-face and telehealth counselling and is the twentieth Gidget House to open in the state, building upon Gidget Foundation Australia's commitment to expanding their services across the country.
The Hon Rose Jackson MLC says "We know the families across the Northern Rivers have experienced unparalleled challenges over recent years with floods and threats of fires, whilst still navigating adjusting to early parenthood.
"This is why providing mental health support in regional communities such as Lismore and the surrounds is a top priority of ours. It's important for expectant and new parents to have access to quality services like Gidget Foundation Australia in times of need and know that help is never too far away."
This new service officially launches as two fifths of regional New South Wales parents admit to prioritising their needs last after having a baby and more than a quarter wish they had more support from their local community.
Gidget Foundation Australia CEO, Arabella Gibson, said that the expansion of face-to-face services across the state will provide much needed support for parents in regional locations.
"With half of parents in regional New South Wales reporting a lack of emotional and practical support after having a baby, it's necessary for us to expand our services to reach more mums and dads who may be struggling," Ms Gibson said
"As part of our valued commitment to support the emotional wellbeing of expectant and new parents across the country, we're hopeful our expansion to Lismore will provide a safe space for open conversations with perinatal specialist clinicians."
Gidget Foundation Australia and Tresillian Lismore Family Care Centre acknowledge the obstacles faced by expectant and new parents in rural communities and are dedicated in ensuring they have access to services and support that will assist them with perinatal mental health concerns.
