Service offers free support to parents

SERVICES provided by Gidget House Ballarat are aiming to help expecting and new parents experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety.

The organisation provides free, individual counselling to parents like Kirby Barkolias who reached out to Gidget House after giving birth to Archie on Freedom Day, the first day out of COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne.

As Ms Barkolias had become a close COVID contact, she was moved to a special ward after giving birth and could not see her husband, leaving her to feel isolated during this stressful time.

Her baby Archie experienced jaundice, low blood sugar and a heart murmur.

“I had a really traumatic hospital experience where I came into contact with someone who had COVID and I didn’t have COVID,” she said.

“I was completely isolated but I never tested positive and I had a newborn.”

Ms Barkolias’ maternal health nurse suggested she should reach out to the Gidget Foundation and following her telehealth sessions Ms Barkolias perspective of her experience changed.

“My perspective changed to being more about my strengths and how I was able to deal with this horrible first week of my child’s life and becoming a new mum,” she said.

“As a mum you get told so often it’s hormones and it’s normal to feel all over the place but regardless, go talk to someone because it’s so helpful.”

Recently Ms Barkolias gave birth to her second child and she said her experience the second time around was completely different.

“Because of seeing the counsellors, I was able to use those strategies to see my whole experience from a different angle and not fall so far into that well,” she said.

“I new what signs to look for and to reach out if I needed help.”

Clinical team leader Katie Peterson said it is important these services are accessible to regional parents.

“There is definitely a need and a benefit to having Gidget Houses in specific areas because it means clinicians understand the area and what services are available to parents there,” she said.

“We know that regional areas have less access to services and that there’s a high demand.

“That’s why opening a Gidget House in a regional area is really important as it gives people more opportunities.”

To access these services participants are required to get a referral from their GP. More information can be found at gidgetfoundation.org.au.