When parents need help...

OooooOoooOooo my first edit ROFL

Emma i know what you mean. I had postnatal depression that wasnt diagnosed until Janaya was 9 months old, so it meant i couldnt be treated under the maternal mental health service.

I ended up going to the mental health daybase every day and doing therapy with 15 or so other adults who had severe mental illnesses. It was so awful The therapy was pretty intense and i was really out of place there. I couldnt even speak to any of them!

It wasnt until my doctor found me a postnatal support group that i finally started to get somewhere.

I have no idea either... terrible isn't it.

Emma - I know there are a lot of youth counselling places that are free, but yeah none for over 25's that I know of. I used to get free care for my depression at the youth health clinic which was great, but I don't *fit* there anymore as I'm not a wayward teen.

I really feel for people without the support of family nearby, I know we couldn't cope without my family and it has shown me just how much they care with them all stepping up and helping out while D's been away these past 3 months and Jack's been the child from hell. I heart my mummy and daddy!

hmmm I know in Palmy there is a few diff agencies mostly run by local churches but you don't have to belong as such, like presbartaian sp support does alot of work with families...........

Places like Catholic Social Services, Salvation Army and Presbytarian Support (to name a few) offer free help to everyone, whether you're part of their church or not, but as newmum said a lot of people have 'drifted' away and wouldn't even consider using them, may not even know they're available, it's a real pity.

 

In Wgtn there's a place called the Downtown Community Ministry which can also put people in touch with affordable counsellers.

Edited by MrsMojo

I was just thinking and chatting with DH about this the other night. I feel like there is such a huge lack of support for families especially those who don't have family support. We need a system where parents can ring someone like a centre or whatever and they can look after your baby/child any time at short notice an it be safe, cheap and welcoming for a while so that parents can have a break.

Thank goodness for my sister who is amazing support. She lives close by and we help each other. it's hard when you don't have parents who live close by DH parents live in Tauranga. They are great thsy are coming up especially to look after luke so we can have our first night out!! yah

My parents are great but on a different level.They are often busy or on hoilday ahh to be retired!

Also life line do face to face counselling it's cheap and a great service.

I say the government should set up a service like they have in a place called pengreen in England. It's a one stop shop so to say. With all services you need right from conception till they go to school in one complex.
Midwives, doc's, mental health workers, nurses, childcare, drop in centre, support groups, da's groups, young mums groups . It's amazing and has been going for 25 years.

It's an amazing concept that we need in NZ.

I still say we need what was THE OLD KARITANE HOSPITALS as well to help all you young Mums out there.        that dont have any support and I know alot of ex karitane nurses who like me would agree