Specialist mental health service for new parents opens in Lismore

By Sarah Waters

New and expecting parents in the Northern Rivers will now have access to free specialised mental health care as they navigate their journey through parenthood.

Last Friday, Gidget House officially opened at Tresillian Lismore Family Care Centre to support parents struggling with perinatal depression and anxiety. Gidget House provides year-long, free individual psychological counselling services and holistic care delivered face-to face and via telehealth.

New data from Gidget Foundation Australia reveals one in two parents living in regional NSW lack both emotional and practical support from their family and friends.

A quarter of parents in regional NSW also needed the most support between 3-12 months after the birth of their child.

While one in three felt a loss of identity in most aspects of their life after having a baby.

NSW Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson officially opened Gidget House and welcomed the service for expectant and new parents to the area.

Ms Jackson said families across the Northern Rivers had experienced unparalleled challenges over recent

Fire fighters save neighbouring buildings

By Tim Howard

Fire fighters attending a fire which gutted a medical imaging clinic in Maclean were able to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring buildings.

About 8am last Thursday a fire broke out at the premises of Clarence Valley Imaging in River St, Maclean.

The building, between the Maclean Ambulance Station and Clarence Valley Council building was alight by the time fire fighters began to arrive.

years with floods and threats of fires, whilst still navigating adjusting to early parenthood.

“This is why providing mental health support in regional communities such as Lismore and the surrounds is a top priority of ours,” she said.

“It’s important for expectant and new parents to have access to quality services like Gidget Foundation Australia in times of need and know that help is never too far away.”

Gidget Foundation Australia CEO Arabella Gibson said the expansion of face-toface services across the state will provide much needed support for parents in regional locations.

“With half of parents in regional NSW reporting a lack of emotional and practical support after having a baby, it’s necessary for us to expand our services to reach more mums and dads who may be struggling,” Ms Gibson said.

“As part of our valued commitment to support the emotional wellbeing of expectant and new parents across the country, we’re hopeful our expansion to Lismore will provide a safe space for open conversations with perinatal specialist clinicians.”

It is estimated that perinatal depression and anxiety affect almost 100,000 expectant and new parents in Australia each year.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the Clarence Valley Imaging building which was totally destroyed.

Fire and Rescue Maclean were the first fire fire crew on the scene, along with NSW Ambulance, located next door.

Maclean SES took on traffic control and crews from Fire and Rescue Yamba, Grafton and South Grafton plus Rural Fire Service crews and Yamba SES were called in to assist.

River St between Taloumbi St and Wharf St was closed while crews worked on the blaze.

Neighbouring businesses and houses were evacuated as a precaution, but crews were able to contain the blaze to the medical imaging building. The cause of the fire is unknown, but investigators will comb the fire site for clues to the source of the blaze.

Service

NSW RFSWooloweyah

@brooms head RFS

Fire and Rescue NSW

Station 372 Maclean

Fire and Rescue NSW

Station 510 Yamba

Emergency service crews in attendance were:

NSW RFSGulmarrad Brigade

NSW RFS - Clarence Valley District

Ashby Rural Fire

Fire and Rescue NSW

Station 306 Grafton

Fire and Rescue NSW

South Grafton 307

NSW SES Maclean Unit

NSW SES Yamba Unit