Blaise Baldissera || On the colourful journey called Motherhood

*Please be aware that this episode discusses depression, hospitalisation and challenges related to motherhood.

Blaise Baldissera is a brilliant Mum! Like many Mums she found the transition to becoming a Mum a challenge that she didn't quite expect. With the support from her family and loved ones, Blaise reached out and received the support she needed in the form of a stay at Helen Mayo House. Many people don't know about this great service in Adelaide which provides inpatient services for parents who have significant mental health problems in the postnatal period.

Women/carers and their infant/s aged 12 months and under can be admitted to Helen Mayo House if they are the parent with primary responsibility for the infant and have a mental illness. Mental health problems, such as severe depression, anxiety or psychotic illnesses are considered to be significant if they impact on the parent’s ability to function in everyday life and care for their child.

If you have an admission to Helen Mayo House, you can expect an average stay of two to three weeks. However, you may have a longer or shorter admission depending on your needs. During this time the team, including Psychiatrists, Nurses, Clinical Psychologist, Social Worker and Parent-Infant Therapist will provide medical and therapeutic support for you and your child.

You can find out more about Helen Mayo House here: https://www.wchn.sa.gov.au/our-network/camhs/helen-mayo-house

If you are concerned about someone who is struggling and finding it difficult to see their way out of grief or mental challenges, then we highly recommend Question. Persuade. Refer. QPR training, which Emma and Lain talked about in the first episode of Season 1. You can access the training at https://www.countrysaphn.com.au/mental-health/suicide-prevention-services/question-persuade-refer-qpr-online/ Type in the code CSA to take the training free of cost. This training is funded by Country SA PHN. We thank them for their support in the Suicide Prevention space- an area we believe is important to put energy towards.

We hope you enjoy this episode. Remember to subscribe so you don't miss any of the future MFEP+ME episodes!

*MFEP+ME is a project created within the program Mentally Fit EP (MFEP). MFEP aims to empower people to take charge of their lives and to build mentally fit, connected communities. We believe mental health is everyone's business!

Thank you to our NFP organisation, West Coast Youth and Community Support, for making MFEP a possibility! A rock star organisation with rock star staff!

A BIG thank you to the Cummins and Port Lincoln Community Banks for supporting Mentally Fit EP and this podcast through their grant programs. A special thank you to Elke Hill and Sally Bronca for choosing the MFEP+ME podcast as an important initiative that was worth investing their staff sponsorship in.

Helpline Numbers and EP Counselling services are pinned to the top of the Mentally Fit EP Facebook page

Lifeline 131 114

Regional Access 1300 032 186

Suicide Call Back 1300 659 467