Free perinatal mental health psychology service for parents in the Shire

Looking after the mental health of expectant and new parents is a cause very close to our hearts.

We like to think of the Mums of the Shire website as a place you can visit when you are looking for a business or service to help you navigate motherhood, and we like to think of our online community as a group you can turn to when you have a question or are struggling and need some support.

Sometimes though, particularly in those first few years as a mother, you may need more than local recommendations and suggestions from other mums to help you through trying times.

At Mums of the Shire, we have lived this, so we understand it. So too does Gidget Foundation Australia.

Gidget Foundation Australia is a non-profit organisation that exists to support the emotional wellbeing of expectant and new parents to ensure they receive timely, appropriate and specialist care. Their work helps thousands of parents every year who experience perinatal depression and anxiety.

To assist with their mission, Gidget Foundation Australia provides support services for families suffering emotional distress during pregnancy and early parenting, and also educate health professionals and the community on these issues.

Practically speaking, Gidget Foundation Australia offers counselling and psychological sessions and assessments through their telehealth and screening programs. They also have peer support groups available and provide a range of resources to assist parents, the community and health professionals to better understand and manage perinatal mental health issues.

Gidget Foundation Australia has 88 specialist perinatal mental health psychologists nationwide and has recently onboarded a Sutherland-Shire based psychologist who is available to support local parents. 

This professional and invaluable support is being offered completely free of charge to parents in the perinatal period (during pregnancy or the first year of their child’s birth). There is no catch, this service exists for struggling expectant and new parents, and is there to support you through what can be an incredibly difficult time for many people. You simply need to get a referral and mental health care plan from your GP (so the appointments can be bulk billed through Medicare) and call and make an appointment to visit the clinician at Kareena Private Hospital in Caringbah.

You can use this appointment to discuss any concerns relating to anxiety or depression over becoming or being a new parent.

Call Gidget Foundation Australia now on 1300 851 758 or visit gidgetfoundation.org.au for more information.