Support for mums
A MOTHER of three has been left feeling isolated and anxious as a result of limited perinatal mental health services in remote communities.
Grace Hambling, who lives on a station 700km from Katherine and 400km from Kununurra, had no local support for her perinatal mental health.
Ms Hambling relocated to the NT when her third child was three months old and was disappointed at the lack of support available for her anxiety.
“It was the ‘what ifs’ that concerned me, not so much the what was,” she said.
“What if a snake bit her or even me? What if she gets sick?”
“As a first-time mum, the distance to hospital and the access issues related to wet season certainly played on my mind.”
To better support remote mothers during Perinatal Mental Health Week, 42 organisations will unite between November 7 and 13 to close the gap in limited resources for new parents living in remote communities.
Program clinician Amelia Walker said the new partnership between mental health services would aim to recognise the strength of many coming together with a unified message “that we hear you, we see you and there is support that may be just the right fit for you”.
November 12 will be dedicated to recognising the limits of resources in rural Australia and addressing the concerns.
When Ms Hambling encountered some struggles with breastfeeding, no local support was available and doctors made the decision to fly her daughter to Katherine.
“Towns often have mothers groups or playgrounds you can attend to socialise with other mums who can help normalise what you’re feeling,” she said.
“Living in a city and knowing help was close by would have alleviated many of my worries. Having access to lactation consultants or mental health specialists would have been great.”
Ms Hambling said November 12 would be an appreciated day to many mothers in her situation who were also failed by limited support.
“I think, particularly for remote women, we feel we have to be tough,” she said. “I hope this week helps women to feel a bit more comfortable in talking about their struggles. It’s OK to ask for help and it’s OK to need some time alone.”