Australians for Mental Health welcomes Labor's promise to help new parents
Australians for Mental Health has endorsed Labor's election commitment to provide free mental health support to parents before and after their child's birth.
The $16.7 million promised would go towards opening eight new peri-natal mental health centres.
The announcement builds on the 12 centres promised by Labor in 2022, six of which have opened.
"The birth of a child can be incredibly joyous, but it is a time when significant mental health issues can arise, sometimes with tragic consequences. Providing free support for expecting and new parents will go a long way towards helping them navigate the emotional rollercoaster of bringing a baby into the world," Australians for Mental Health Executive Director Chris Gambian said.
"Postnatal depression affects many new mothers and fathers, and too often it goes untreated or even undetected.
"By investing in the mental health of new parents we are tackling the crisis head on, and setting up the conditions for better mental health for the whole family," Chris Gambian said.
While Australians for Mental Health welcomes this announcement, the grassroots advocacy group is calling for the next federal government to get serious about addressing mental ill-health in Australia.
Other actions the organisation is campaigning for include establishing a Wellbeing Act to ensure whole-of-government accountability for mental health, and to support the provision of quality affordable and accessible services where they are needed.
"We need to put mental health at the centre of everything we do, alongside the economy or national security. A proactive approach to mental health will improve the lives of every Australian" Chris Gambian said.
