Gidget Foundation Australia seeks donations to fund free mental healthcare for new parents

It is meant to be one of the happiest times of your life but a growing number admit the result is often on the other end of the spectrum.

It should have been the happiest time of her life. Lisa Carrick had just given birth to her third child, a bouncing baby boy and had a “wonderful husband.”

Instead, the 32-year-old felt hollow.

“When I looked at my baby, I felt nothing. I didn’t feel connected to him. I couldn’t look at him. I felt empty,” she said.

“I was convinced my family would have been better off without me. After that I saw my GP and I let everything out.”

It was a terrifying and isolating moment that made Ms Carrick feel as if there was something wrong with her and that she was alone.

In reality, Ms Carrick is one of thousands of Australian parents struggling with peri-natal depression and anxiety.

New research shows that almost 60 per cent of expectant and new parents have experienced prenatal mental health symptoms.

Lisa Carrick suffered from peri-natal depression after the birth of her third child, Beau.

Ms Carrick said she felt ‘empty’ when she looked at her son.

Internal data from the expectant and new parent mental health organisation Gidget Foundation Australia has recorded a 132 per cent increase in clients since 2020.

For Ms Carrick, the service was crucial to helping her overcome her peri-natal depression.

The mum-of-three said accessing Gidget Foundation Australia changed her life.

“I didn’t really realise something was wrong. It was like my emotions and mind had just shut down,” she said.

“It was only when I started having those intrusive thoughts and just those feelings of anxiousness and fixating on things that I started connecting that ‘something isn’t right here’.”

She was referred to Gidget by her GP, a decision that changed her life.

The foundation provides 10 free individual psychological counselling sessions for new and expectant parents, as well as a telehealth and emotional wellbeing program.

“I am forever grateful for my amazing circle of support. I know others aren’t so lucky,” she said.

“After opening up to those around me, I was blown away by the number of those who also said they struggled with their mental health after giving birth.”

Over the past four years, the number of parents who have sought help from GFA each year has nearly tripled from 1309 to 3037, while the number of Gidget Houses across the country has more than doubled.

With 32 face-to-face locations operating across the country, GFA hopes to increase its network to 40 total locations nationally by 2027.

Despite recording a 30 per cent increase in clients internally, research commissioned by GFA shows many Australians are missing out on support.

The commissioned data shows that more than half of expectant and new parents have experienced peri-natal mental health symptoms, yet only two in five of these have sought professional help.

Gidget Foundation CEO Arabella Gibson is calling for donations to help GFA meet the increasing demand for their crucial and free peri-natal mental health services.

“We’ve seen a surge in new families seeking mental health support. Already, 2168 clients have booked appointments for 2024, and the demand shows no signs of slowing down,” she said.

“With one in five mothers and one in 10 fathers experiencing peri-natal depression and anxiety (PNDA), as well as maternal suicide being a leading cause of death among expectant and new mothers, it’s vital that parents have access to specialist, appropriate care.”

On Gidget Giving Day – June 19 – every donation made will be doubled.

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