Telehealth Lifeline: How Regional Parents Access Vital Mental Health Support

Gidget Foundation Australia offers specialist perinatal mental health support to regional parents through its telehealth program. This service helps those who struggle to access care due to long travel times or limited local options. Early treatment is critical for managing perinatal depression and anxiety. Perinatal depression and anxiety affect one in five new mothers and one in ten new fathers in Australia. This means around 100,000 people experience these conditions every year. In regional areas, barriers like stigma, isolation, and distance make it even harder to seek help.

The foundation’s Start Talking program was launched before COVID-19. When lockdowns began, it shifted all appointments online within 24 hours. The program ensures parents in remote locations can receive support without long journeys. Without it, many would go without care, as one in four regional parents with symptoms do not seek professional help. The telehealth service removes geographical and logistical hurdles for new parents. It provides specialist care that might otherwise be hours away. Early detection and intervention remain the focus of the foundation’s work.