kiddi
By Arabella Gibson, CEO of Gidget Foundation Australia
We are in the middle of a quiet mental health crisis, one unfolding not in emergency wards or headlines, but in nurseries, in the sleepless hours of 3am, in the silences behind a new parent’s forced smile.
Each year, around 100,000 Australian parents experience perinatal depression and anxiety (PNDA). It affects one in five mothers and one in ten fathers – and its ripple effects extend far beyond the individual, shaping families, relationships and communities.
This is not a marginal issue. It is a national one.
Twenty-five years ago, a young mother lost her life to postnatal depression. In their grief, her loved ones made a promise – to ensure no other family would endure the same heartbreak. From that promise, Gidget Foundation Australia was born, an organisation dedicated to supporting parents, breaking stigma and making it easier to seek help.
Since then, awareness has grown. More parents are speaking openly about the challenges of pregnancy and early parenthood. But behind this progress lies a more troubling reality: demand for support is surging. Over the last three years, Gidget Foundation Australia has seen a 50% increase in the number of parents supported each year.
And still, too many parents are suffering in silence.
It’s not ‘just the baby blues’
One of the most damaging myths about new parenthood is that emotional distress is simply part of the experience – something to be endured rather than treated.
Yes, the “baby blues” are common. But they are brief and temporary. Perinatal depression and anxiety are not.
These are serious, clinically recognised conditions. They can manifest as persistent low mood, withdrawal from loved ones, difficulty bonding with a baby, or even intrusive and distressing thoughts. Left unaddressed, they can have devastating consequences.
New consumer research by Gidget Foundation Australia found, a quarter (25%) of parents recognise they are struggling, but still didn’t reach out for help. More troubling is that a third of parents (33%) who experience symptoms do not believe their struggles are severe enough to seek help.
The difference between a parent who gets help and one who doesn’t, can be – as Gidget’s founding story shows so painfully – a matter of life and death.
For a parent of a newborn, exhausted, possibly isolated, perhaps living hours from the nearest specialist, navigating the mental health system can feel impossibly hard. This is why the Gidget Foundation Australia’s model is so important. Their services include:
- Free face-to-face psychology therapy sessions* at Gidget Houses across the country
- Telehealth options that reach parents in regional and remote areas
- Gidget Village online programs that offer support on specific issues, giving parents convenience, connection and knowledge.
The stigma is shifting – but it’s not gone
The good news is that awareness has grown enormously since Gidget’s death 25 years ago. Advocacy, open conversations and the courage of those willing to share their personal lived experienced perinatal mental health challenges have all made a difference.
But stigma hasn’t disappeared. It still clings most stubbornly to fathers, who are far less likely to seek help despite experiencing perinatal depression. It persists in communities where cultural expectations can make vulnerability feel like failure. And it shows up in the everyday assumption that a new parent should be glowing, grateful, and coping just fine.
We have come a long way. But progress is not the same as resolution. There is still a long way to go.
How you can help this Wednesday, 10 June
On Wednesday, 10 June 2026, Gidget Foundation Australia is hosting its Gidget Giving Day, a 24-hour fundraising event where every donation is matched dollar for dollar.
- $50 becomes $100
- $100 becomes $200
Every contribution is doubled and supports free mental health care for parents in need. Donations are also tax-deductible before EOFY.
Because right now, somewhere in Australia, a parent is struggling – and your donation could fund the session that changes their life.
👉 Give before midnight on 10 June:
www.gidgetfoundation.org.au/gidget-giving-day
∗ The cost of services provided through Gidget Houses are funded through Medicare bulk billing. There are no out-of-pocket costs for up to 10 individual psychological therapy sessions per calendar year. A referral from a GP and a mental health treatment plan are required.
About Gidget Foundation Australia
2026 marks Gidget Foundation Australia’s 25-year anniversary. 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.
As the leading national provider of perinatal mental health services, Gidget Foundation Australia provides year-long, free* individual and group perinatal mental health psychological therapy services delivered in-person and via telehealth. Gidget Foundation Australia invests in its 200+ clinicians through innovative training, mentoring and supervision to meet growing demand.
To access perinatal mental health support – those affected need to speak to a GP about a referral and a Mental Health Treatment Plan or contact Gidget Foundation Australia’s Client Experience Team on 1300 GIDGET to discuss support options specific to their needs.
Although there have been incredible advances in perinatal mental health awareness, education and support since 2001, there is still so much more to do. Gidget Foundation Australia’s key focus for the next 25 years is to transform perinatal mental health for the next generation.
For further information and helpful resources visit gidgetfoundation.org.au.
About Gidget
Gidget was the nickname of a vibrant young mother who tragically died by suicide while experiencing postnatal depression, a diagnosis she kept close to her heart.
Together, her loving family and friends created Gidget Foundation Australia determined that what happened to Gidget would not happen to others.
