Karen Hogan, the wife of Federal member for Page Kevin Hogan, today officially opened the new Tresillian Family Care Centre in Lismore to support parents struggling with the demands of a new baby.
Mr Hogan said the new centre was good news for parents in the Northern Rivers who needed advice on how to settle their baby, breastfeeding issues and dealing with peri-natal anxiety and depression.
“As a father, I know a new addition to the family is an extremely joyous event, but it can also be stressful for some families. This new centre means support will be on hand locally to help families to adjust,” he said.
Mrs Hogan was joined at the opening by Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell.
The opening coincided with NSW Peri-natal Depression and Anxiety week with statistics revealing that as many as 30% of new mums have suffered from some form of depression and anxiety in the first year of their baby’s life and the Northern Rivers and North Coast is no exception.
Tresillian’s Operational Nurse Manager, Rural Services, Debbie Stockton said: “It’s not unexpected that parents find the lack of sleep and stress of a crying baby, impacts on their mood and ability to cope.”
“Our nurses are able to identify and support parents who are at risk of or are experiencing postnatal depression and anxiety, so the family can receive the help they need as early as possible.
“The Tresillian Centre in Lismore provides a range of services and programs to help parents with the challenges of an unsettled baby, while importantly focusing on the emotional wellbeing of the family as a whole’.
Dr Nick Kowalenko, President of the Tresillian Council, who will preside at the official opening said “It’s well documented how effective the Tresillian service is when it comes to supporting new parents. We’re pleased that families in the local area will have access to Tresillian’s early parenting services without having to travel to Sydney.”
Tresillian’s entry into Lismore has been supported by an agreement with the management of the North Coast Primary Health Network (NCPHN) and the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) who will provide both financial and non financial support to the Centre over the next three years.
