Perinatal depression and anxiety arising from the birth of a child is costing the community almost $500 million by the time the child turns two according to a new report launched today by the Minister for Mental Health, Mark Butler. Mr Butler also launched two new free beyondblue booklets for pregnant women, mothers and their families, entitled Emotional health and wellbeing during pregnancy and early parenthood and Managing mental health conditions during pregnancy and early parenthood.
The report, prepared by PwC for beyondblue, quantifies the cost to the community if perinatal depression and anxiety are not treated.
“Being a new mum or dad can be the most rewarding experience of one’s life, but it can also be an enormously challenging time for many parents,” Mark Butler said.
He congratulated beyondblue for commissioning the report and raising the issue in the community.
An expert advisor to beyondblue, Dr Nicole Highet said it is only through recognising the long-lasting effects of the disorders that the true cost to the community can be understood.
“This report shows the huge costs and far-reaching effects of perinatal depression and anxiety. While the debilitating personal impact of these conditions on mothers is becoming more widely acknowledged, the broader social and economic costs are rarely recognised.
“If the number of women affected by perinatal depression and anxiety was reduced by just five per cent, this would reduce the cost to the economy by $136 million.
“This is why it is so important to promote early detection of these conditions through education and routine screening in pregnancy and after the baby’s birth. Mental health care is just as important as physical health care at this time, especially when considering the profound personal, social and economic costs to the mother, baby, partner, family and wider community,” she said.
Beyondblue encourages women, their partners and families to know and recognise the symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety and understand that it is not a normal part of ‘baby blues’.
Dr Highet said it’s important that women receive treatment for the disorders.
“Don’t be afraid to talk to you doctor. There are treatments suitable for both pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.”
At the time of writing, the booklets are expected to be available via the beyondblue website. See also justspeakup.com.au.
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