Nurturing connections: new program supporting young families
Mental health and new parenthood have important linkages – around 1 in 5 mothers experience symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy or after birth, and some experience more serious and ongoing perinatal mental health disorders.
A new program supporting healthy child-caregiver connections within families and delivering holistic support for new parents impacted by psychological distress or trauma has been launched.
The new Nurturing Connections program recognises that some families require more intensive, layered services than what is already available. The program was established following a $3.34 million investment from the NSW Government for its first year of service delivery in three areas across the state, including a centre in Hurstville run by South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.
The therapeutic program is designed to help families who are pregnant or have an infant or young child (aged 0-4 years) and are experiencing psychological distress, trauma, or social adversity that impacts their relationship with their child.
The Nurturing Connections program will be delivered by the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Service’s multidisciplinary team, including perinatal and infant mental health workers, psychiatrists, allied health professionals, peer workers, and child and family health nurses.
Ashleigh Allan, Peer Support Worker at Nurturing Connections in Hurstville, said the team hope to have a positive impact on the lives of our families, especially throughout the important first 2000 days of a child's life.
“As a multidisciplinary team with experience across perinatal and infant mental health, child and family health nursing, peer support and cross-cultural maternity services, we are so grateful for the opportunity to work together to engage in strengths-based, trauma-informed, holistic support with our families.”
“Establishing this new team has been such a positive experience. We have established strong, collaborative partnerships across services within our District, local organisations and St George family support services, to enhance our capacity to support local families,” added Ashleigh.
At Hurstville, the program is expected to support 30-40 families a year and is inclusive of fathers, caregivers and gender-diverse families as well as mothers and their children.
Nurturing Connections centres have also opened at sites in Kempsey and North Ryde.
