Channel ten star Jessica Rowe talks candidly on her battle with postnatal depression

CHANNEL Ten's Jessica Rowe reveals she felt like a crazy woman, disconnected from the outside world and completely desperate.

JESSICA Rowe has spoken openly and candidly about her battle with postnatal depression, revealing how it made her feel like she was dying on the inside.

Rowe, who was speaking on Studio 10 this morning, told the panel she felt like a failure as a mother and was reluctant to accept her illness for fear of the stigma surrounding mental health.

The former newsreader, who has two daughters Allegra, six and Giselle, four, with husband Peter Overton said she looked like she had it all together but was suffering anxiety and panic attacks.

Rowe said she wanted to use Post-Natal Depression Week to tell mothers they are not alone in their struggle and to seek help.

"I had everything in life I could possibly wish for and finally I had this beautiful baby girl but I never felt more desperate and sad," she said.

Jessica Rowe said she was reluctant to speak about her illness at first. Picture: Screengrab/Ten

Rowe went on to say how she was pushing her daughter Allegra along in her pram and looked like she had it together but "was dying inside" and felt "like there was a panel of glass between me and the outside world."

The 43-year-old, who has spoken about her battle in the past, said many mothers were still reluctant to admit they had a problem.

It wans't until she opened up to her mother and husband that she began to seek help and with support and medication began to get better.

Rowe joined Ita Buttrose, Joe Hildebrand and Sarah Harris in hosting the much touted morning show this month as part of Network Ten's new morning line-up, which also includes the breakfast program Wake Up.

Post-natal depression affects roughy one in seven women across Australia. Post Natal Depression week starts next Monday.

If you or someone you know needs help contact PANDA (1300 726 306) contact Lifeline (13 11 14), beyondblue (1300 22 46 36) or the Salvo Care Line (1300 36 36 22).

Continue the conversation via Twitter @newscomauHQ | @DebKillalea | @PANDA_NATIONAL

Rowe has two daughters, Allegra, 6 and Giselle, 4, with husband Peter Overton. Picture: Screengrab/Ten

###