The Silent Struggle: Why Perinatal Mental Health Support is Falling Through the Cracks
For many new parents in Australia, the journey into parenthood is a deeply emotional and often challenging one. While the physical health of both mother and baby is meticulously monitored, the critical aspect of mental well-being can be alarmingly overlooked. This is a reality starkly illustrated by the experience of Amy Hipwell, a mother whose personal odyssey through profound grief, anxiety, and joy highlights a systemic gap in perinatal mental health support.
Amy’s story is one of immense resilience. Over five years, she and her husband Chris navigated a landscape of both immense happiness and devastating loss. They welcomed two healthy children, but their journey was also marked by the heartbreak of losing three babies: one to stillbirth at 28 weeks, another to early miscarriage, and a third to a rare genetic disorder.
Despite the compounding trauma and the emotional toll these losses undoubtedly took, Amy found that professional medical advice primarily focused on the physical aspects of her pregnancies. While her obstetrician took necessary precautions, prescribing blood thinners and ordering additional tests for her third pregnancy with Julia, the psychological impact of her anxieties remained largely unaddressed by the healthcare system.
“The appointments and the screenings are very medical,” Amy recounted. “There was nothing about my mental health and how I would look after myself in the pregnancy.”
This lack of proactive mental health engagement continued even after Julia was born. “I was obviously so happy that I had a healthy baby, but then so worried that I was going to lose her,” Amy explained. This hypervigilance, a common symptom of anxiety, went unacknowledged. “It was never talked about or questioned, like, you know, ‘maybe you want to go and get some support for how anxious you’re feeling’.”
The family’s journey took another heartbreaking turn when Amy fell pregnant with Skye. Relocating to Brisbane and facing limited support from family and friends, they received devastating news at their 12-week scan. Skye was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, a severe genetic condition, with further scans revealing complications that gave her less than a 1 per cent chance of survival beyond a week after birth. The difficult decision was made to terminate the pregnancy at 17 weeks.
Amy Hipwell’s firstborn daughter, Emily, was stillborn at 28 weeks due to complications with the umbilical cord.
“That was probably the most traumatic experience I’ve had in a hospital situation and losing another baby girl was devastating for us,” Amy shared. “We just got sent home and there was nothing… I don’t recall any support at all.”
Returning to Victoria, Amy fell pregnant with her son, Nathan. Despite the preceding losses, she still found no discussion about her mental health during this pregnancy or after Nathan’s arrival. Alone at home with a toddler and a newborn, Amy found herself struggling to cope. “I was just crying all the time, I didn’t feel like I was bonding with Nathan,” she admitted.
It was a moment of profound vulnerability, while she was crying during a cleaning session, that a compassionate voice from outside the medical system finally offered a lifeline. Her cleaner, observing her distress, gently suggested, “it sounds like you really might need some help.”
This simple act of kindness prompted Amy to search online, leading her to PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia). The call to PANDA was one of raw desperation. “I remember calling them and crying, and just going, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong, I don’t want to even be at home anymore, I don’t want to look after this baby, I just can’t do it’,” she recalled. “I just wanted to get on a plane and leave and never come back.”
The Alarming Statistics
Amy’s experience, unfortunately, is far from unique. Recent PANDA survey data reveals a significant gap in how healthcare providers address the mental health of expecting and new parents.
- A concerning 22 per cent of respondents reported that healthcare providers did not inquire about their mental health at all.
- Less than half (43 per cent) of those surveyed indicated that anxiety was included in routine screenings.
Expert Insights: Why Support is Crucial
Julie Borninkhof, a clinical psychologist and CEO of PANDA, underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and proactive support. “Healthcare providers should be regularly asking expecting and new mothers, dads and partners how they are feeling emotionally,” she stated.
Borninkhof highlighted a critical issue: many healthcare professionals receive limited mental health training, often with insufficient focus on the specific challenges of the perinatal period. “GPs, child and family health nurses and midwives receive mental health training, but often it is not specific to the perinatal period, and training may only be a few hours in their whole course,” she explained.
The period of pregnancy and early parenthood, often referred to as “matrescence,” is a time of immense hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, and significant life adjustments. Borninkhof noted that many individuals struggle to cope but may not recognise their experiences as symptoms of anxiety or depression.
“Symptoms are so different for each person that we recommend reaching out if you are finding it hard to cope or you don’t feel like yourself, regardless of the reason why,” she advised.
The Far-Reaching Impact of Untreated Perinatal Mental Illness
The consequences of untreated perinatal mental health issues can be severe, impacting not only the parents but also the well-being and development of their children.
- Parental Well-being: Without adequate support, a parent’s mental health can deteriorate, potentially becoming life-threatening for themselves and their children.
- Child Development: The perinatal period is a foundational stage for an infant’s physical and mental health. Prioritising parental well-being directly contributes to building strong foundations for children and fostering intergenerational well-being.
The journey of parenthood can be fraught with emotional challenges, underscoring the need for comprehensive mental health support.
PANDA is committed to ensuring parents receive the help they need early on, enabling them to be the best they can be for themselves and their families.
Where to Find Support
If you or someone you know is struggling with the emotional challenges of pregnancy or new parenthood, or if you wish to support someone who may be experiencing difficulties, there are vital resources available:
- PANDA: Visit panda.org.au or call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (Monday-Friday, 9am-7:30pm and Saturday 9am-4pm AEST/AEDT).
- Lifeline: Contact 13 11 14 for immediate support.
- Beyond Blue: Reach out for confidential mental health support.
