Gidget Foundation Australia
Written by Arabella Gibson, CEO of Gidget Foundation Australia
As a community, we talk a lot about pregnancy, birth and our children: birth plans, feeding recommendations and sleeping schedules, but unfortunately, feelings around emotional wellbeing can be left unsaid.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, anxious or isolated leading up to the birth of your baby or in the months after, you’re not alone. These feelings are common and can affect more parents than you may realise. In fact, one in five mums and one in ten dads experience perinatal depression and anxiety.
This Perinatal Mental Health Week (23 – 29 November) it is critical to encourage parents to speak to a trusted loved one to share their experiences and to know that they are not alone. For parents who are struggling silently, there is support available to meet you where you are in your parenthood journey.
Stepping into parenthood can be joyful; however, it can be one of the biggest transitions that you may experience in your adult life. Not every parent has the journey that they may have expected or anticipated.
The challenges of parenthood can look different for every parent. They can be subtle, creeping in as exhaustion, worry, irritability or a lingering sense of ‘not feeling like myself’. They can also be intense, affecting daily functioning, relationships and the precious months spent bonding with a new baby. Importantly, these experiences are common, treatable and not to be ashamed of.
We know it can be hard adjusting to life with a baby, and the routine you once knew can be flipped upside down. Adjusting to parenthood can be understandably difficult, no matter how prepared you are and this transition can have a toll on your mental health. If you are struggling during your parental journey, know that there is support available for your individual needs.
Perinatal Mental Health Week (PMH Week) sees 68 partners come together to de-stigmatise perinatal mental health and encourage parents to start conversations with loved ones and reach out for support. The theme of PMH Week this year, ‘What You Need, When You Need It’, reflects what we do at Gidget Foundation Australia, ensuring every parent has access to care that fits their needs and circumstances.
We hear from parents who have felt overwhelmed or ashamed, believing they should be ‘coping better’, or worried that speaking up would make them appear they are failing as a parent. We know that making the first call to access support can be incredibly difficult; however, it can be one of the most courageous and bravest decisions a parent can make.
At Gidget Foundation Australia, our mission is simple but profound: to support the mental health of expectant, new and potential parents to ensure they receive accessible, timely and specialist support. Through our Gidget Houses and telehealth program – Start Talking, we provide free GP-referred psychological counselling to parents who are struggling in the perinatal period. We know that the right support at the right time can make an enormous difference. Early intervention helps parents recover faster, strengthens family relationships and supports healthy infant development.
This Perinatal Mental Health Week, we want all parents to know that reaching out for help is a sign of strength. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. Talk to your GP, chat with a friend or partner or explore support options through organisations like Gidget Foundation Australia. You don’t have to wait until things feel unmanageable; support exists for every stage of the journey.
Perinatal Mental Health Week gives us an opportunity to reshape how we talk about parenthood and to ensure that no mother, father or family feels they must endure this experience alone. My hope is that every parent feels supported, validated and reminded that they matter. With the right care, the journey through early parenthood can become not only manageable but deeply rewarding.
About the author:
Arabella Gibson is a mother of teenage twins and the CEO of Gidget Foundation Australia, a national not-for-profit mental health organisation supporting the mental health of expectant and new parents and their families. Arabella joined Gidget Foundation Australia over eight years ago, after a lengthy career in the media industry, working in executive management for small businesses as well as publicly listed entities in both Australia and the UK.
About Perinatal Mental Health Week:
Perinatal Mental Health Week (PMH Week) takes place annually in November – a national week to raise awareness, provide information, referral pathway support and de-stigmatise perinatal mental health issues. A united sector supporting expectant and new parents during what will be one of the most vulnerable times in their life.
About Gidget Foundation Australia:
Gidget Foundation Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that supports the mental health of expectant, new and potential parents to ensure they receive accessible, timely and specialist care. It offers year-long, free, specialist perinatal mental health psychological services online and in-person, and invests in retention, engagement, and development of its clinicians.
