Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week 2024

Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week

is the annual campaign hosted by PADA – Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa to raise awareness and encourage advocacy to highlight the need for better perinatal mental health outcomes in Aotearoa.

Our theme this year is Hononga | Connection.

Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa

Let us keep close together, not far apart

Every first week in May, PADA – Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa celebrates Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week, with World Maternal Mental Health Day on the first Wednesday in May, this year being the 1st of May. This year marks the 13th annual Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week.

Throughout this week we share stories and information and provide opportunities to increase understanding and help for people suffering from perinatal (anytime during pregnancy, birth or early parenting) mental health issues.

This year, we are committed to showing how we can all make a difference to improve perinatal mental health outcomes in Aotearoa, by staying connected. Social isolation and loneliness have a huge impact on an individual’s mental health. Interpersonal connections provide valuable outlet for expressing emotions, sharing experiences, and gaining perspective on life’s challenges. Engaging in positive relationships fosters a sense of belonging, support, and understanding.

Did you know?

• New Zealand has around 60,000 births a year
• Approximately 15,000 parents of those births will experience anxiety or depression as a result
• 40% of those experiencing postnatal distress will have experienced antenatal distress
• That’s 7000 mums, 3000 dads and 12,000 children affected in some way

Anxiety disorders are also common and occur alone or with depression. As well as mothers and birthing parents, fathers and partners also experience mental health problems around this time.

Supporters can participate in Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week in a variety of ways:

• Pledge your support and upload your photo, tagging PADA, to raise awareness and eliminate the stigma – too few people come forward to admit they are struggling, it is not a weakness, we are stronger together!
• Make a meaningful impact for women and birthing parents, men and birthing partners with your gift. It’s one of the easiest and best ways to show your support. Donate today!
• Join our social followers to help foster understanding and acceptance by sharing the stories, information and events designed to increase understanding, training, and to eliminate the stigma of perinatal mental health issues. Submit your story for our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter, and tagging PADA!
• Learn all the ways you can fundraise on social media, through Givealittle or The Good Registry, you CAN make a difference. Get ideas from our past Perinatal Fundraising Champions!

Whether you are a family, love someone who has a new baby, or are looking to those who struggle during this time – let’s be stronger together and pledge to make a world of difference in training and educating health care providers to support each birthing parent in this country, regardless of their whakapapa or postcode. All new parents need the very best support!