New parents struggling with anxiety urged to seek out free service

Chenzi Dong, a Melbourne lawyer, described feeling desperate and guilty after giving birth, experiencing intense anxiety when her baby cried. She felt neglected as her family focused solely on her son, rarely inquiring about her emotional well-being.

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At times, I felt desperate.

"Rarely does anyone ask about how I'm doing. Or if they do ask, it's just a perfunctory greeting," Dong said. "They don't really care about my emotions or feelings, which makes me feel a bit let down." She admitted to pushing her feelings aside due to not knowing where to find professional help and her demanding schedule as a new mother.

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Hearing the baby cry would make me tense up immediately, and I would feel terribly guilty if the baby was sick or uncomfortable.

Dong's experience highlights a broader issue in Australia, where approximately one in five women and one in 10 fathers face perinatal anxiety and depression. A recent survey found that 25% of new parents in Victoria were unsure how to access professional support, and 33% felt their symptoms weren't severe enough to warrant help. Parents from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities were found to be even less likely to seek assistance.

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Rarely does anyone ask about how I'm doing. Or if they do ask, it's just a perfunctory greeting. They don't really care about my emotions or feelings, which makes me feel a bit let down.

To address this, the federal government has funded the rollout of Gidget Foundation Australia's Perinatal Mental Health Centres, known as Gidget Houses, across the country. New clinics have recently opened in various locations, including the Northern Territory, Tasmania, and Melbourne. Expectant and new parents can access 10 Medicare bulk-billed psychological counseling sessions annually. Alyssa Lalor, director of program delivery at Gidget Foundation Australia, emphasized that seeking help is a sign of strength and encouraged new mothers experiencing anxiety or depression to seek professional support promptly.

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It's easy to neglect your own physical and mental health.