Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week is held over one week each November. One in 7 women and one in 10 men suffer from this condition.

This episode explains the symptoms, resources for help, and discusses how trauma from birth can be one of the causes. Tips for how to heal, and how to help someone you know with perinatal depression or anxiety are also given.

Aired on Monday 14 November 2016 on BayFM and Friday 18 November 2016 on the national Community Radio Network.

Produced by Sally Cusack with the assistance of the Community Broadcasting Foundation.

Important contacts for support:
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia: 1300 726 306
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
www.birthtalk.org

Episode notes:
www.panda.org.au
www.beyondblue.org.au
www.birthtalk.org
UK survey regarding rates of birth trauma and its impacts on women: http://www.birthrights.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Birthrights-Dignity-Survey.pdf
www.safemotherhoodforall.org.au

Speakers -
* Sheena Byrom, OBE, midwife and midwifery consultant from the UK, www.sheenabyrom.com
* Bashi Kumar Hazard, lawyer and board member of Human Rights in Childbirth: www.humanrightsinchildbirth.org
* Professor of Midwifery Soo Downe, University of Central Lancashire, UK. Refs: The Lancet: Maternal Health 2016 Series
* Professor of Community Health Sciences Eugene Declerq, University of Boston, US: www.birthbythenumbers.org

With thanks to Professor Hannah Dahlen and the International Normal Labour and Birth Conference October 2016 for enabling me to conduct these interviews.

Image: www.panda.org.au