The New South Wales Parliament Select Committee on Birth Trauma report has now been handed down, incorporating several key recommendations from AAPi's submission. Many thanks to Alysha-Leigh Fameli and all members who participated.
Key recommendations include:
Recommendation 5
That the NSW Government improve mental health support for women and families affected by birth trauma by:
- including psychological support in public postnatal care
- ensuring that parents have access to psychological support beyond the immediate post-partum period
- reviewing the funding needs of services currently offering specialised helplines for birth trauma counselling and committing to providing the level of funding and support required
- advocating to the Australian Government to increase Medicare-rebatable psychological support for new parents to reduce gap fees and enable access to the number of sessions clinically required.
Recommendation 36
That the NSW Government improve psychological support for parents managing grief following pregnancy loss.
The AAPi voice is mentioned throughout the report:
"According to the Australian Association for Psychologists, birth trauma can have severe consequences for patients and their families: Emotionally, women may experience feelings of fear, anxiety, or depression, impacting their ability to bond with their newborn and cope with the challenges of parenting. In the long term, birth trauma has been associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can significantly impair the individual's mental health and quality of life."
As was that of AAPi member and subject matter expert Alysha-Leigh Fameli:
"This concern was echoed by registered psychologist Ms Alysha-Leigh Fameli who underscored that birth trauma is a complex multifaceted issue, requiring intensive ongoing treatment. Ms Fameli stressed the inadequacy of ten Medicare-rebate psychology sessions, stating it results in substantial out-of-pocket costs for parents seeking effective mental health treatment. She called on Medicare rebates to be extended for new mothers who need mental health treatment to 40 sessions per year, which she said this is in line with other sensitive mental health conditions such as eating disorders."
Read the full report here.