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Gidget Foundation Australia exists to promote emotional wellbeing for expectant and new parents and to raise awareness of perinatal anxiety and depression amongst women and their families, their health providers and the wider community to ensure those in need receive timely, appropriate and supportive care.
Perinatal anxiety and depression and the difficulties of early parenting affects 20% of mothers and 10% of fathers who will experience some degree of clinically diagnosable mental health illness in association with pregnancy or early parenthood. This equates to over 100,000 new parents every year. Over 50% of new parents will experience adjustment disorders. The cost to the workplace, the family and the community is significant and poorly recognised. Suicide remains the leading cause of maternal death.
The organisation leverages its impact and strengthens its outcomes by working collaboratively with many professionals who support vulnerable parents. All funds raised are directed to its programs, which include:
• The Emotional Wellbeing Screening Programs at hospitals including North Shore Private and The Mater
• Gidget House, providing free psychological support (10 sessions) for families experiencing emotional distress during pregnancy and early parenthood, located at North Sydney and Randwick
• Start Talking, providing video call psychological support (10 sessions) for families experiencing emotional distress during pregnancy and early parenthood
• Education and awareness programs for health professionals and the community
• Advocacy and active memberships of professional networks
• Research and contribution to mainstream and professional publications
• Development and distribution of resources