22/11/2024
It's Perinatal Mental Health Week.
This year's theme is 'We're here, a community that cares'.
This photo was taken a couple of days before the birth of my first baby, in 2022. The most amazing day of my life. And, although I thought I was ok at the time in those early months of being a mother, in hindsight, I really wasn't. What was likely undiagnosed postpartum depression / anxiety really affected my experience of motherhood in the first part of my daughter's life. I wish so much that I could go back, wrap younger me up in the biggest hug and let her know it's ok to keep it real and ask for help.
If you know a new mum or dad, please reach out, check in. Let them know you care, and that you want to hear about how they are really doing, warts and all. Hold the parents, not just the baby.
If you're a mama or dad, currently in the trenches, feeling alone and not yourself, I want to reassure you that you're not alone. What you're feeling is far more common than you think. Let go of the effort of putting on a brave face around others - it's bloody hard work that you don't need right now.
Talk to your GP, care provider or a trusted friend or loved one about how you are really feeling. When someone asks how you are, be honest and keep it real. Being a parent is hard enough without mental health challenges, and there is help out there. We're here, a community that cares.
You an also check out:
org.au