Stay Connected to Telehealth - support parents experiencing perinatal depression & anxiety
Stay Connected to Telehealth - support parents experiencing perinatal depression & anxiety
The issue
Despite fears the COVID-19 pandemic will leave long-term mental health scarring, the government is set to cease Medicare-rebated telehealth services for all Australians on September 30.
Gidget Foundation Australia is calling for the government to confirm the extension of the telehealth MBS item numbers past the current 30 September expiry date.
New independent research reveals psychological telehealth services have delivered equal, if not better results, on clinical screening measures for depression and anxiety.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has seen Australian service providers turn to telehealth solutions to deliver vital services to those in need.
Despite Australian’s mental health in a state of despair, the government is set to cease Medicare-rebated telehealth services to Sept 30 for all Australians.
During the pandemic, Medicare Benefits for telehealth services were expanded to cover all of Australia indefinitely.
Australian Psychological Society (APS) Chief Executive Officer Ros Knight says, “Psychologists see first-hand the impact of perinatal depression or anxiety on new parents, every day. With the added challenges 2020 has presented to us all, we have been relieved to be able to continue supporting these new mothers through the use of telehealth appointments.”
With one in five (20%) mothers and one in ten (10%) fathers experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression, Gidget Foundation Australia believes that specialist perinatal counselling is a key step on the road to recovery.
“When an expectant or new parent is experiencing those overwhelming feelings of anxiety or depression, sometimes a chat with the local GP just isn’t enough. It’s critical that when parents are in this fragile state, they’re getting support from professionals who specialise in perinatal psychological support. Our Gidget Foundation team can not only offer hands-on, practical advice but also connect them with other local services or support groups” (Arabella Gibson, CEO Gidget Foundation Australia).
One such parent that can speak to the benefits of the Start Talking telehealth program is Gidget Angel, Edwina Sharrock.
“Having a baby is a huge time of transition for new parents and for some people, leaving the house can feel overwhelming. The priority during this time should be on rest, recovery, establishing feeding, and bonding with your new baby. The Start Talking telehealth services mean new mums don’t have to travel far away from their support networks, worry about navigating traffic or finding a park – they can just focus on getting the support and love they need from their session. The closest Gidget House for me is over 500kms away, so telehealth was really the only option for me to connect with a perinatal specialist as we just don’t have them in regional Australia,” Sharrock said.
Please support Gidget Foundation Australia to ensure that expectant and new parents in need are able to access the support they need.
749
The issue
Despite fears the COVID-19 pandemic will leave long-term mental health scarring, the government is set to cease Medicare-rebated telehealth services for all Australians on September 30.
Gidget Foundation Australia is calling for the government to confirm the extension of the telehealth MBS item numbers past the current 30 September expiry date.
New independent research reveals psychological telehealth services have delivered equal, if not better results, on clinical screening measures for depression and anxiety.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has seen Australian service providers turn to telehealth solutions to deliver vital services to those in need.
Despite Australian’s mental health in a state of despair, the government is set to cease Medicare-rebated telehealth services to Sept 30 for all Australians.
During the pandemic, Medicare Benefits for telehealth services were expanded to cover all of Australia indefinitely.
Australian Psychological Society (APS) Chief Executive Officer Ros Knight says, “Psychologists see first-hand the impact of perinatal depression or anxiety on new parents, every day. With the added challenges 2020 has presented to us all, we have been relieved to be able to continue supporting these new mothers through the use of telehealth appointments.”
With one in five (20%) mothers and one in ten (10%) fathers experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression, Gidget Foundation Australia believes that specialist perinatal counselling is a key step on the road to recovery.
“When an expectant or new parent is experiencing those overwhelming feelings of anxiety or depression, sometimes a chat with the local GP just isn’t enough. It’s critical that when parents are in this fragile state, they’re getting support from professionals who specialise in perinatal psychological support. Our Gidget Foundation team can not only offer hands-on, practical advice but also connect them with other local services or support groups” (Arabella Gibson, CEO Gidget Foundation Australia).
One such parent that can speak to the benefits of the Start Talking telehealth program is Gidget Angel, Edwina Sharrock.
“Having a baby is a huge time of transition for new parents and for some people, leaving the house can feel overwhelming. The priority during this time should be on rest, recovery, establishing feeding, and bonding with your new baby. The Start Talking telehealth services mean new mums don’t have to travel far away from their support networks, worry about navigating traffic or finding a park – they can just focus on getting the support and love they need from their session. The closest Gidget House for me is over 500kms away, so telehealth was really the only option for me to connect with a perinatal specialist as we just don’t have them in regional Australia,” Sharrock said.
Please support Gidget Foundation Australia to ensure that expectant and new parents in need are able to access the support they need.
749
The Decision Makers
Petition created on 8 September 2020