MEDIARELEASE–21August2017

GidgetHouseopensatTheMaterHospital

GidgetFoundationAustraliaopens itsthirdGidgetHouseattheMaterHospital inNorthSydneyonTuesday22August.NowevenmoreexpectantandnewparentswhoareexperiencingperinatalanxietyanddepressioncanaccessGP-referred,freepsychologicalsessions.GidgetHouseattheMaterHospitalwillinitiallyopenonTuesdaysfrom9amuntil4pmand,subjecttodemand,willextendtofurtherweekdays.ItwillbelocatedonLevel3withintheMaternityWard.TheMaterwelcomesaround2,500newbabieseachyearandpriorityofservicewillbegiventothosehospitalpatients.However,ifspacesareunfilledwithin48hrsofanappointmentthenthesetimesareofferedtonon-hospitalreferrals.Currently,theMaterisoneoftwohospitalstoruntheGidgetEmotionalWellbeingProgram.ThisscreeningprogramenableswomenbookedtohavetheirbabyattheMaterHospitalaone-hourappointmentwithatrainedGidgetmidwifetoexploretheirfeelingsandemotionalwellbeinganddiscusstheirconcernsregardingthepotentialforpostnataldepressionandanxiety.OnceGidgetHouseopensat theMateron22August, thosewhodo requirefurthersupportcanreceivetheirfreepsychologicalsessionsatthehospitaltoo.Psychologist,SarahRobuck,whowillbestationedatGidgetHouseattheMater,saysthereisagrowingneedforaccessibleserviceswithinthisarea.“Myownpersonalexperiencethroughfertilitytreatments,atraumaticchildbirthandaverysicknewbornrequiringsignificantmedicalattentionintheNICUwardhighlightedhowvitalaccesstosupportservicessuchasmentalhealthservicesformothersandparentsare,”saysRobuck.“Earlyinterventioniskey-proactivesupport,education,andtreatment for parents, particularly mothers, can help reduce the occurrence of dysfunctional family systems,individualmentalhealthdifficultiesandbehaviouraldifficultieswithyoungchildren.”Pregnancy brings joys along with challenges. The Gidget Foundation and the Mater Hospital recognise theimportance of emotionalwellbeing for newparents and the need to provide themwith support and services.Previouslyknownaspostnataldepression,perinatalanxietyanddepressionduringpregnancyandearlyparenthood(theperinatalperiod)affectsalmost100,000Australianseachyear.JanineLoader,CEOTheMaterHospitalsaysofthenewinitiative:“WearedelightedtobecollaboratingwiththeGidgetFoundationtoprovidethisgreatcomplementaryofferingforourpatientswhoalreadyexperienceourGidgetEmotionalWellbeingProgramthroughaspecialistPre-AdmissionMidwifeAppointment.It’svitalwesupportthecommunitybothasin-patientsatTheMaterbutalsooncetheyhavetheirbabysafelyathome.”ArabellaGibson,CEOGidgetFoundationAustraliasays:“Ifirmlybelievethatsharingourmessagewithnewmumsanddadsisabsolutelyvitalastheytrytobalancehighexpectationswithtoday’sfastpacedlifestyle.Ourcommunityneeds toknowthat it’sok to feelanxiousand lowand that theGidgetFoundationcanhelp themthrough freecounsellingandprofessionalsupportatGidgetHouseinNorthSydney,Randwick,andnowattheMaterHospitalaswell.”“WearedelightedtopartnerwiththeMaterMaternityteam,aperfectsynergy,togetherofferingqualityparentingservicesandemotionalsupport,”Gibsonadds.

Gidgetisthenicknameofavibrantyoungmotherwhotookherownlifewhilesufferingpostnataldepression.Shehidhersufferingfromevenher lovingfamilyandfriends.TheycreatedtheGidgetFoundationdeterminedthatwhathappenedtoGidgetwouldnothappentoothers.Today,theGidgetFoundationAustraliaassistshundredsofexpectantparentsandtheirfamilieseachyear.Thisisthrough its freepsychological servicesatGidgetHouse,aswellas theGidgetEmotionalWellbeingProgramforpregnant women in hospitals. The Foundation provides training for health professionals, supports research,developsresourcesandhasestablishedworkplaceawarenessprograms.

GidgetHouseatMaterHospitalOpensTuesday22August

BookingswillbemanagedviatheGidgetFoundationPh1300851758Iwww.gidgetfoundation.org.au

facebook.com/GidgetFoundationIinstagram.com/gidgetfoundationItwitter.com/GidgetFndation

-Ends-Forfurtherinformation,interviewsorimages,pleasecontact:AlliraCarrollatTonicPR,allira@tonicpr.com.auor0499406036.AboutGidgetFoundationAustraliaGidgetFoundationAustralia isanot forprofitorganisation, chairedbyObstetricianDrVijayRoach.TheGidgetFoundation exists to promote emotional wellbeing for expectant and new parents and to raise awareness ofperinatal anxiety and depression amongst women and their families, their health providers and the widercommunitytoensurethatthoseinneedreceivetimely,appropriateandsupportivecare.The organisation leverages its impact and strengthens its outcomes by working collaboratively with manyprofessionalswhosupportvulnerableparents.Allfundsraisedaredirectedtoitsprograms,whichinclude:

• TheGidgetEmotionalWellbeingProgramsathospitals• Gidget House, providing free psychological support for families experiencing emotional distress during

pregnancyandearlyparenthood• StartTalking,providingfreevideocallpsychologicalsupportforfamiliesexperiencingemotionaldistress

duringpregnancyandearlyparenthood• Educationandawarenessprogramsforhealthprofessionalsandthecommunity• Advocacyandactivemembershipsofprofessionalnetworks• Researchandcontributiontomainstreamandprofessionalpublications• Developmentanddistributionofresources

AboutTheMaterHospital,NorthSydneyerHospitalisaleadingprivatehospitalrenownedforitsqualitycareandcompassion.Wetakeaholisticapproachtohealthcareandacknowledgetheuniquenessofeverypatienttocreateahealingenvironmentthatissecondtonone.

Forover105yearswehaveworkedinpartnershipwithourpatientsandtheirfamilies.Ourexperiencedteamofhealthcareprofessionals,caregiversandsupportstaffareequippedtoprovidethehighestleveloftherapeutic,medicalandsurgicalservices.Weworktogethertoensureyoursafety,wellbeingandrecovery.

TheMatermaternitywardwelcomesover2,500babiesintotheworldeachyear.

Ourmaternitystaffpridethemselvesonprovidingsupportive,highqualitycarebefore,duringandafterthebirthofyourbaby.Theyhavealongandproudtraditioninmaternityserviceswithafocusoncompletecare.

MaterMaternityCareisanintegratedcollaborativeteamofObstetricians,midwives,maternitysocialworkersandlactationexpertstoguideintheplanninganddevelopmentofyourpregnancy,deliveryandcareofyourbaby.