A new service offering free specialised mental health support to new and expectant parents around the Murraylands has officially opened.
Gidget House Murray Bridge was opened at the Murray Bridge Community Centre on Friday 14th August, giving parents across the region access to face-to-face and telehealth psychological therapy closer to home.
The service is the second Gidget House to open in South Australia, following the launch of the Elizabeth facility earlier this year.
Gidget Foundation Australia says an estimated 552 parents across South Australia’s South East region experience perinatal depression and anxiety each year.
Nationally, around one in five mothers and one in 10 fathers are affected by perinatal depression and anxiety.
The organisation’s research found 27 per cent of South Australian parents did not believe their symptoms were severe enough to seek help, while 31 per cent said they were unsure how to access perinatal mental health support.
South Australian Labor Senator Marielle Smith officially opened the Murray Bridge service.
“Becoming a parent for the first time is a wondrous, incredible, life-changing experience. But it can also be bloody tough,” Senator Smith said.
“Each year, hundreds of parents across South Australia’s Southeast region will experience perinatal depression and anxiety. We cannot leave them to face it alone.”
Senator Smith said she had long advocated for greater investment in mental health services in the region.
“I have no doubt that the support that will be provided by Gidget House Murray Bridge at Murray Bridge Community Centre will not only strengthen families, but save precious lives.”
Gidget Foundation Australia CEO Arabella Gibson said the service would help address the challenges faced by families living outside metropolitan areas.
“No parent should miss out on specialised perinatal mental health support because of where they live,” Ms Gibson said.
“Expanding into Murray Bridge means more families in South Australia can access timely, evidence-based care closer to home.”
Murray Bridge Community Centre Centre Manager Sarah Smith said the partnership would strengthen the local support network.
“We are delighted to partner with Gidget Foundation Australia to provide a dedicated space for parents seeking perinatal mental health support,” she said.
“This partnership strengthens the network of support for the local and rural community, ensuring parents in Murray Bridge and surrounding communities can access specialised support without needing to travel to Adelaide.”
Services at Gidget House Murray Bridge are bulk billed through Medicare, with eligible parents able to access up to 10 individual psychological therapy sessions per calendar year. A GP referral and mental health treatment plan are required.
The opening comes as Gidget Foundation Australia marks its 25th anniversary. The organisation says it has supported more than 18,000 families through more than 138,000 free psychological therapy appointments nationally.
