Mental illness remains heavily stigmatised, with rural parents unwilling to seek help for peri-natal depression due to fear of judgement and failure, one mental health professional told Henty Machinery Field Days.
Riverina Bluebell’s Mardi Walker said her message of mental health openness was an important message to share at the agricultural event during Women’s Health Week.
She said people in regional and rural areas are hurting.
“The biggest problem women have is that feeling they’re going to be the perfect mother, over the years it creates higher pressure and anxiety,” she told the first day of Henty Field Days.
“After years and years advocating I still see women fall through the gaps of services.”
Ms Walker said woman and men with pre- and post- natal depression, anxiety or psychosis must seek help
“The affects can be lasting for women who work so hard to cope and mask illness for years,” she said.
“Rural areas are the worst as the negativity and stigma is at it’s highest in rural areas.”
Ms Walker said she knows the fear of failing as a mother that leads people to be silent about the disease, as she’s lived it herself.
She said it was important health professionals, friends and family look beyond a newborn, to the new parent behind.
“Next time you go see a new baby don’t just look at the baby – look at the parent and ask how they are,” she said.
“We have a duty of care as a clinician and from where I sit we fail to provide that.”