Specialist mental health service for new parents opens in Lismore

By Sarah Waters

New and expecting parents in the Northern Rivers will now have access to free specialised mental health care as they navigate their journey through parenthood.

Last Friday, Gidget House officially opened at Tresillian Lismore Family Care Centre to support parents struggling with perinatal depression and anxiety.

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Gidget House provides year-long, free individual psychological counselling services and holistic care delivered face-to face and via telehealth.

New data from Gidget Foundation Australia reveals one in two parents living in regional NSW lack both emotional and practical support from their family and friends.

A quarter of parents in regional NSW also needed the most support between 3-12 months after the birth of their child.

While one in three felt a loss of identity in most aspects of their life after having a baby.

NSW Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson officially opened Gidget House and welcomed the service for expectant and new parents to the area.

CEO Gidget Foundation Australia Arabella Gibson, NSW Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson, Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, Gidget Angel Kaiden Powell and Tresillian operations manager Rachael McLean at the opening of Gidget House in Lismore.

Ms Jackson said families across the Northern Rivers had 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,” she said.

“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.”

Gidget Foundation Australia CEO Arabella Gibson said 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 NSW 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.”

It is estimated that perinatal depression and anxiety affect almost 100,000 expectant and new parents in Australia each year.

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