A free telephone helpline is available in Australia from 9am to 7pm (AEST) Monday to Friday 1300 726 306
Trained volunteers and counsellors are available to provide confidential support to mothers, fathers, family and friends.

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About Gidget Foundation

The Gidget Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to promote awareness of perinatal anxiety and depression amongst women and their families, their healthcare providers and the wider community to ensure that women in need receive timely, appropriate and supportive care.

In 2001, we lost “Gidget” to perinatal depression. Her family and all those close to her were unaware that she was suffering so desperately until it was too late. Her suicide had a devastating impact on all of us and to this day we still do not understand completely how this could have happened to our beautiful friend.

To help prevent others being so deeply affected by perinatal anxiety and depression, the Gidget Foundation was established in 2002 by Gidget’s family and friends along with our Chairman, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Vijay Roach and a network of pro bono professional advisors.

Since The Gidget Foundation was established in 2002 we have worked collaboratively on the following projects:

• Behind the Mask: The Hidden Struggle of Parenthood.  An informative and educational DVD produced in collaboration with PANDA (VIC) and Australian Business Theatre. Copies can be purchased through PANDA. 
• Emotional Wellbeing Program at North Shore Private Hospital. Made possible through a grant from the nib foundation. Pregnant women will be offered the opportunity of an interview with a trained midwife to discuss their feelings and expectations surrounding pregnancy and the birth of their baby. Resources are available for interested women.
• Marce Society Conference Breakfasts the two previous conferences have been treated to breakfasts and guest speakers sponsored by the Gidget Foundation.
• Gidget Foundation scholarship awarded annually to a registered nurse working at Tresillian. Each year a successful applicant undertakes the Diploma of Mental Health at the NSW Institute of Psychiatry. to replace: Funds to establish the Tresillian ‘Gidget Scholarship’. This provides full financial assistance for a Tresillian Registered Nurse to pursue further post graduate study in the area of perinatal mental health.
• The Dona Maria Pre and Postnatal Support Telephone service providing help for women during the perinatal period. This was accessed by consumers and carers.
• Funding for Professor Roseanne Clark, psychiatrist from the University of Wisconsin Medical School, USA to address the Tresillian Conference on perinatal mood disorders. Professor Clark developed the Parent Child Early Relationship Assessment Tool.

Gidget Committee Alexandra Berthold Elizabeth Bowditch Jacqui Cotton Louise Hunter Catherine Knox Karen Platt Dr Vijay Roach Simone Short Gidget Professional Advisors Sarah Alden – Accountant Rebecca Dunn – Psychologist in private practice Julie Somerville – Lawyer, Yeldham Price O’Brien Lusk

Patron of The Gidget Foundation: Ms Lisa Hensley Lisa Hensley is the patron of The Gidget Foundation. She was a close school friend of Gidget's and is a mother. She is a highly respected Australian actor who has played many roles in various TV shows and mini series. She currently presents the The Know on Foxtel and From The Heart on Qantas inflight radio. Lisa has been a strong supporter of the Gidget Foundation for many years and is passionate about promoting awareness of perinatal anxiety and depression.