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Government commitment to support parents with perinatal depression and anxiety
The Federal Government has announced a $300,000 funding injection to support expectant and new parents.
The Government will provide funding to the Gidget Foundation – a not-for-profit parent support organisation that is Australia’s only dedicated perinatal psychological telehealth counselling service.
The announcement comes with Perinatal Depression and Anxiety (PNDA) Awareness Week 11–17 November.
The funding is designed to help expand the Gidget Foundation’s services to provide more assistance in regional, rural and remote locations across Australia.
According to the Gidget Foundation, PNDA affects one in five new mothers, one in 10 new fathers and an overall total of 100,000 Australians each year.
The organisation aims to drive awareness of PNDA and encourage parents to seek support, offering 10 free clinical psychological sessions for expectant and new parents in person, and seven sessions via video call.
The Government said it backs the Gidget Foundation’s objective of prevention, recognising that early intervention is fundamental to reducing the impact of PNDA on individuals and their families.
GPs are among the healthcare professionals who can help to provide clinical assessment, emotional support and practical advice for those experiencing PNDA.
anxiety depression Gidget Foundation Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week
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