Around one in 10 women and one in 20 men struggle with perinatal anxiety and depression. Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week runs between November 13 to 19 and is designed to beat the stigma associated with the condition that affects approximately 100,000 Australian families each year. New research by Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia reveals that the perception of what other people think remains an enormous hurdle for sufferers who are battling the internal war, often in silence. This year, child and family health workers in Armidale are inviting local mothers to attend a support-focused event called Changing Blue Days to Rosy. Armidale mother-of-three Penny Dalgleish said the event would provide an opportunity for local mums to reach out. “One of the biggest issues about post-natal and perinatal depression is it can be so isolating,” Ms Dalgleish said. “I had post-natal depression with my eldest while we were living in Sydney and we were away from family. “That was pretty huge, dealing with that but also being able to articulate what was going on was helpful. “I was also struck with guilt about what was going on… you get stuck in a mindset of ‘everybody else has it together, why don’t I have it together?’” Ms Dalgleish said the depression was brought to her attention by a friend. “You’re usually the last person to know and it’s the other people around you that seem to pick up on the symptoms,” she said. “If you have friends or a family member who has given birth… just checking in to see if that person’s OK. “Also asking for help before you think you’re going to need it. “It’s always harder to ask for help when you’re already down in the trenches. “Connecting with the community can help you be able to meet with other parents who could be in the same situation as you, and to build support around you is imperative for anybody who is struggling.” The event will be held on November 16 at the Armidale City Bowling Club.
Speaking up: Armidale mother-of-three Penny Dalgleish is fighting to break the stigma surrounding perinatal anxiety and depression.
Around one in 10 women and one in 20 men struggle with perinatal anxiety and depression.
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week runs between November 13 to 19 and is designed to beat the stigma associated with the condition that affects approximately 100,000 Australian families each year.
New research by Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia reveals that the perception of what other people think remains an enormous hurdle for sufferers who are battling the internal war, often in silence.
This year, child and family health workers in Armidale are inviting local mothers to attend a support-focused event called Changing Blue Days to Rosy.
Armidale mother-of-three Penny Dalgleish said the event would provide an opportunity for local mums to reach out.
“One of the biggest issues about post-natal and perinatal depression is it can be so isolating,” Ms Dalgleish said.
“I had post-natal depression with my eldest while we were living in Sydney and we were away from family.
“That was pretty huge, dealing with that but also being able to articulate what was going on was helpful.
“I was also struck with guilt about what was going on… you get stuck in a mindset of ‘everybody else has it together, why don’t I have it together?’”
Ms Dalgleish said the depression was brought to her attention by a friend.
“You’re usually the last person to know and it’s the other people around you that seem to pick up on the symptoms,” she said.
“If you have friends or a family member who has given birth… just checking in to see if that person’s OK.
“Also asking for help before you think you’re going to need it.
“It’s always harder to ask for help when you’re already down in the trenches.
“Connecting with the community can help you be able to meet with other parents who could be in the same situation as you, and to build support around you is imperative for anybody who is struggling.”
The event will be held on November 16 at the Armidale City Bowling Club.
