Help and counselling for new parents
If you have just become a new parent—congratulations!
As you will discover, parenting a new baby is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming time.
While friends and family can offer lots of valuable advice, it is common to need some outside help and support along the way.
Here are some phone and support services to help you through the many challenges and emotions you may face, including information on dealing with postnatal depression.
Helpful phone services
In an emergency always call Triple Zero (000).
The following phone services can provide help and counselling to you in non-emergency situations.
- 13 HEALTH—call 13 43 25 84 to speak to a registered nurse about your or your child’s health. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the cost of a local call. 13 HEALTH is not an emergency line. For help in emergency situations, contact Triple Zero (000).
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline—call 1800 822 436 to speak with a trained counsellor about the first year of your child’s life.
The service is free (charges may apply from your mobile). - Breastfeeding Helpline—call 1800 MUM 2 MUM (1800 686 268) for advice from trained consultants about breastfeeding issues.
The helpline is available 7 days a week. - Parentline—call 1300 30 1300 for advice and counselling about any issue that affects you as a parent.
The service is available from 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week for the cost of a local call (mobile phone charges apply). - Post and Antenatal Depression Association (PANDA)—contact PANDA on 1300 726 306 if you or your partner are feeling depressed, or you are struggling after the birth of your child.
The confidential service is available from Monday to Friday, 9am–7pm. - MensLine Australia—call 1300 789 978 if you’re a man and have family or relationship concerns. The helpline is available 24 hours a day.
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Lifeline—call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours a day) if you are experiencing a personal crisis.
Support services for parents
The following support services can help you deal with issues that you experience after having a child.
- Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies—read about the options available to parents for care and support after birth in Queensland.
- Raising Children Network—a list of services and support organisations for parents and families.
- Child and Family Support Hubs—providers of services including parenting education, family support, child health services and resource libraries.
There are 25 locations throughout Queensland. - Early Years Centres—services include education and care, parenting and family support, and selected health services.
There are 4 centres located in Browns Plains, Caboolture, Cairns and the Gold Coast. - Children and family centres—these centres provide education, care, parenting and family support, and child and maternal health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
There are 10 centres throughout Queensland. - Ellen Barron Family Centre—based in Brisbane, the centre offers a 5-day residential program for families with complex parenting needs.
- Relationships Australia Queensland—counselling, support and mediation for families and couples.
- Australian Multiple Births Association—help for women and families that have had a multiple birth.
- Austprem—support for parents of premature babies. You can also visit the Preterm Infants' Parents' Association.
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Breastfeeding support groups—find your local Australian Breastfeeding Association group. There are over 250 throughout Australia.
Dealing with postnatal depression
Contact your doctor or child health nurse if you are feeling emotionally distressed or overwhelmed after the birth of your child.
When these feelings become persistent and disabling, they can reach the level of clinical depression.
Postnatal depression is a common condition for both women and men. It affects almost 16% of women and 5% of men.
Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe, and can appear suddenly or gradually.
If you would like to talk to someone before seeing your doctor or child health nurse, the following services can help.
- Post and Antenatal Depression Association (PANDA)—call 1300 726 306 if you or your partner are feeling depressed, or you’re struggling after the birth of your child.
The service is available from Monday to Friday, 9am–7pm. - beyondblue—call 1300 224 636 for information about depression, the treatments available and for referrals to relevant services.
- MensLine Australia—call 1300 789 978 if you’re a man with family or relationship concerns. The helpline is available 24 hours a day.
- Lifeline—call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours a day) if you are experiencing a personal crisis.
- Parentline—call 1300 30 1300 for advice and counselling about any issue that affects you as a parent. The service is available from 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week for the cost of a local call (mobile phone charges apply).
The following resources provide more information about postnatal depression:
- What is postnatal depression?—an overview of the issue, featured on the Raising Children Network.
- Postnatal depression—information supplied by the Better Health Channel.
- Beyond baby blues—information provided by beyondblue about mental conditions experienced during pregnancy and post-birth.
Resources for mums and dads are also available. - Postpartum Support International—a service dedicated to helping women who suffer from mood and anxiety issues.
- Fathers and depression—information specifically for fathers to help deal with difficulties after the birth of their child, from the Women’s and Children’s Health Network.
