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We understand that being a parent isn’t always peachy
Join the Peachtree Trek – Saturday 12th May, 2012
Join the Peachtree Trek – Saturday 12th May, 2012
To create a community that minimises the impact of perinatal stress and mental illness through acceptance, understanding and education whilst allowing individuals to maintain their sense of self worth and value.
Compassion - Truth - Respect - Support - Integrity - Hope
Create a Peach Tree presence in the North Brisbane region.
Communicating with and educating pregnant women and new parents about identifying early signs of perinatal stress and mental illness & to decrease the incidence and severity of perinatal mental health issues.
Through education and the support of parenting partners, aim to increase the number of women accessing existing services.
Providing opportunities for individuals experiencing perinatal stress and mental illness to meet others going through similar circumstances, via social gatherings and activities, to create a community of support, understanding and healing.
Seek and acquire funding from Government and NGO’s to secure the future of the organisation and achieve sustainability.
Encouraging the de-stigmatisation of perinatal stress and mental illness in society, and foster understanding and acceptance in the next generation.
Peach Tree Perinatal Wellness (Inc.) is a newly established, not for profit organisation aimed at providing services and support to those experiencing perinatal stress and mental illness, and their family and friends, in the North Brisbane region.
Peach Tree Perinatal Wellness (Inc) was incorporated on the 15th March 2011 The organisation was borne from two friends who are also mothers, who both had a personal background of postnatal depression. This shared background continued into a shared desire to help other mothers who may be experiencing perinatal stress and mental illness.
Debbie Spink (Co-founder) is a mother of two girls. Seven weeks after the birth of her second daughter, she was diagnosed with postnatal depression. Debbie began treatment immediately, is now fully recovered and enjoys a full life with her young family.
In 2010, Debbie started to focus on how other women and families could benefit from her experience. Realising how little the public knew about perinatal (conception to 12 months post delivery) mental health, it was clear to her that a great need existed to raise awareness and understanding of perinatal mental health issues, and to address difficulties in accessing the limited support systems that do exist.
Coming from the perspective of a sufferer, Debbie is in a unique position to help not only the public, but the service providers to understand what really is needed to improve early intervention and prevention strategies, and to contribute to the development of support systems for other sufferers.
As the mother of three small children, Viv Kissane (Co-founder) is well aware of the issues and challenges that come with the territory of motherhood. Viv’s experiences and awareness of depression and anxiety began in 2008. Once Viv started searching for information and talking to others experiencing PND, she realised just how tightly depression has woven itself through the fabric of the mothering community – its just that no one likes to talk about it! This has fuelled her passion and commitment to de-stigmatise PND and reach out to women and their partners who are struggling with the demands of parenting, and help them realise that there IS hope and a way forward.
Ante/Perinatal Depression & Anxiety can occur in women anytime during pregnancy and up to two years after the birth of their baby. It often happens unexpectedly and is non-discriminatory, so it can happen to anyone. Some of the symptoms that might be displayed are:
Ante/Perinatal Depression & Anxiety are true medical illnesses, just as diabetes is. Depression occurs in approximately 10% of women antenatally, 16% of women postnatally, and in 10% of men postnatally. This equates to approximately 1850 women and 1150 men experiencing PND on the north side of Brisbane alone every year! These are staggering numbers! This does not reflect the ongoing impact on their children, their relationships, and their family unit.
Postnatal Psychosis (Puerperal Pychosis)
Information on Postnatal Psychosis
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Information on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Peach Tree is not offering any medical advice and is not able to offer treatment for any illness. We suggest speaking to a medical professional for medical advice.
If you need urgent assistance, please call either
If you are concerned about your own emotional wellbeing or that of a loved one, please contact Peach Tree Perinatal Wellness (Inc.) for support and guidance. Click on the link or image to download our What To Do Now Card, for further advice.
A Parenting Partner is the person selected by an expecting or new mother to be her person in partnership to take care of her mental health. Mental health is just as important as any other physical health issue in the perinatal period. A Parenting Partner can be any trusted person, it may be a husband/partner, a mother or sister, or perhaps a close friend or even an understanding neighbour. It is recommended that a pregnant woman identify at least two parenting partners.
Being chosen as a Parenting Partner is a very privileged and important role.
At the core of this role, is to NOT judge your partner, no matter what their thoughts and feelings may be. They must feel safe to share their feelings, or honesty will be next to impossible. It is your job to keep a close watch and ensure that your partner is managing the inevitable stress associated with being a Parent, and if necessary step up and take action when it appears as though she is not coping or having difficulties coping. It is well researched and acknowledged that women who are suffering with A/PND or Anxiety, largely do so in silence. They are reluctant to acknowledge that they may be having symptoms of these illnesses, or indeed in some cases genuinely ignorant to the fact that what they are feeling is not “normal”. Due to these reasons, there are a large percentage of women who never seek or receive treatment. It is therefore entirely possible, that in your role as Parenting Partner, you may need to step in and actively “rescue” your partner from her depression/anxiety.
Peach Tree Perinatal Wellness relies on your support to enable it to continue to provide its services to the community. Your donation is genuinely appreciated. Please contact us if you would like to make a donation or click on the link below to make a secure online donation to us through GiveNow.
Alternatively, for as little as $49 per year you can become an official member of Peach Tree Perinatal Wellness Inc. Support a worthwhile cause! In gratitude of your support, we will send you a special token of our appreciation and you will receive our quarterly Peach Tree newsletter.
Click here to download our membership form.
If you are interested in showing your support to our cause in way of time or service, we are happy to accept your volunteering. Please contact us to register your interest and discuss with us how you might be able to contribute.
Debbie Spink 0487 756 633
Viv Kissane 0487 752 756
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