Perinatal Mental Health Week shines a light on the struggles Canberra parents rarely talk about
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As Perinatal Mental Health Week (23–30 November) shines a spotlight on parent wellbeing, it’s revealing a confronting truth: many new and expecting parents in Canberra and across Australia aren’t receiving the emotional support they need.
According to recent survey findings, four out of five parents receive no professional mental-health support during pregnancy and the perinatal period. Even more surprisingly, almost one in three were never asked a single question about how they were feeling, despite perinatal anxiety and depression affecting around 100,000 families every year.
Nearly one in four Canberra mums may not receive a routine emotional well-being check during pregnancy. Among those screened, almost one in 10 shows signs of significant distress.
Together, the data paint a clear picture: many Canberra mothers and families are navigating pregnancy and early parenthood without timely check-ins, clear referral points, or confidence about where to turn when things feel overwhelming.
Dr Yvonne Luxford, CEO of the Perinatal Wellbeing Centre (PWC), says the numbers reflect what the service hears daily.
Too many parents tell us no one checked in
“Too many parents tell us that they felt no one checked in during the early days of becoming a new mother or parent,” she says.
“Parents in Canberra share the same challenges highlighted nationally. We regularly hear from mums, dads and partners who were never asked how they were coping emotionally, or didn’t know where to turn until things felt too overwhelming and significant distress was experienced.”
To help close these gaps, PWC has begun delivering Antenatal Wellbeing Workshops at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, with plans to expand to Calvary John James Hospital. The workshops support expecting parents in strengthening mental wellbeing during pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, and in connecting with other families early on.
“No parent should navigate this alone,” Dr Luxford says.
By the time I reached out… I was in a really bad place
Victoria, a mother of two and former PWC client, says that by six months postpartum with her second child, she was struggling to cope.
“I wasn’t sleeping, I was overwhelmed, and the anxiety felt constant. By the time I reached out to the Perinatal Wellbeing Centre, I was in a really bad place and didn’t know how to climb out of it on my own,” she says.
“Meeting the amazing women at the centre made all the difference. From the very first phone call, I felt understood and supported without judgment. They understood the perinatal period can be hard, but they also believed recovery was absolutely possible, and that gave me both comfort and hope.”
“My biggest regret is not asking for help sooner. I didn’t recognise the signs of postnatal depression and anxiety at that time. I knew that I was struggling and couldn’t sleep, but I just thought it would resolve itself once we were through the newborn stage.”
“Looking back, reaching out earlier could have changed everything. If you’re struggling, there is no downside to seeking support. You don’t have to do it alone, and you really can feel like yourself again.”
Local support for Canberra families
These experiences mirror what the Perinatal Wellbeing Centre sees every day through its telephone counselling, mental health groups, education sessions, and community programs that support families across Woden, Tuggeranong, Belconnen, and Gungahlin.
And it’s a reminder that no parent has to sit with these feelings alone. Help is available, and it’s closer than many people realise.
Perinatal Mental Health Week: “What you need, when you need it”
This year’s theme shines a light on the very real challenges families face, from intrusive thoughts to the juggle of returning to work, to fertility pressures or adjusting to life with multiple children.
For parents wanting to take that first step, the Perinatal Support Finder and resources at pmhweek.org.au are a simple place to start.
