Bringing perinatal support to Geelong

A LOCAL mum is on a mission to bring a perinatal mental health charity to the Geelong region in support of women on maternity wards.

Eden Judd is the ambassador and Victorian co-ordinator for The Held Project, an initiative started in Mackay this year, and one she is aiming to bring here.

The Held Project is a non-clinical, community-based support group where new mums can request a hospital visit from one of the volunteers.

“This is giving mums support that don’t feel like they’re being heard or actually scared to reach out for help,” Ms Judd said.

“We’re a judgement-free zone and we’ve been through it all, there’s nothing that would shock us, we just want to give that ear to a mum that’s struggling and let her know that we’re here.”

Ms Judd said a barrier for some new mums asking for help was the concern they would be reported, a feeling many within the Held Project have felt themselves.

“There’s that fear that someone’s going to come and take your baby away,” she said.

“We’re not clinical at all, we’re just going in to offer some support and take that fear away from new mums, to feel like they’re heard.”

Once up and running, new mums who have given birth at St John of God or University Hospital Geelong will be able to request a visit through the website.

A volunteer from The Held Project will head to the hospital with a coffee in hand and a nappy bag full of free supplies for both mum and baby.

All volunteers have lived through perinatal depression, anxiety and psychosis and are ready to lend an ear and helping hand to connect people with available resources.

Ms Judd said she felt a need to help other mums feel supported after her own experience with severe postnatal depression.

Following a mental breakdown, she was placed into a mother baby unit for six weeks and since then has been open about her journey to help other mums feel supported.

“When I was struggling, I had no one that understood and that’s what we’re trying to do, we’re trying to take that away.

“We [other ambassadors] wish that this existed when we had our babies because we all felt so alone, there’s no one to say I’ve been through that and you can come out the other side.”

As a not-for-profit initiative, to get things started in Geelong, Ms Judd is seeking financial donations to purchase wholesale stock and starting filling nappy bags.

Brand new items from local businesses to include in the bags are also in need.

For more information and to get involved, head to theheldproject.org or get in touch by emailing [email protected]