After the birth of her daughter in 2022, Sarah Pont experienced an acute mental health crisis in the form of perinatal anxiety.
In the week after giving birth, she was told she was experiencing the “baby blues” and that she’d probably start to feel better after 10 days. But that didn’t happen.
“With each day passing, my state of wellbeing got worse and I was unable to function,” Sarah Pont shares with Women’s Agenda.
Perinatal depression and anxiety are very common conditions that affect around 1 in 5 women, and have significant adverse health effects for both mothers and infants. The perinatal period includes pregnancy, through to 12 months after birth.
Pont said she was desperate for answers at the time, and wanted to be told what she was experiencing was “common” and importantly, “fixable”.
Pont’s mother did some online research to find some crisis support, and came across a counselling organisation who gave her access to an online cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) program.
The program Pont was given access to was from THIS WAY UP – part of the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression, a joint facility of St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of New South Wales.
The online CBT program is one that has been clinically proven in the effective treatment of perinatal depression and anxiety in a recent study that was made possible by a research grant from the HCF Research Foundation.
Dr Alison Mahoney, the lead researcher of the study and a senior clinical psychologist, said internet-delivered CBT is important for those experiencing perinatal anxiety or depression, because of its ease of access.
“Cognitive behaviour therapy or ‘CBT’ is a recommended first-line psychological treatment for mild to moderate perinatal anxiety and depression, and internet-delivered CBT (iCBT) can be quickly accessed by thousands of women at no or very low cost,” Dr Mahoney told Women’s Agenda.
“Sadly, mental health screening and assessment are far from universal, and many women who do screen positive for illness do not engage in treatment.”
“There are multiple barriers limiting access to traditional face-to-face therapy, including costs, long waitlists, distance to services, lack of services, childcare difficulties, and perceived stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment as a mother,” Dr Mahoney explains.
“These barriers can be even more pronounced in regional and rural areas.”
“Online cognitive behaviour therapy programs, like those at THIS WAY UP, help lots of people get around these barriers, and we’ve seen a big increase in demand for online treatment approaches since the COVID pandemic.”
Dr Mahoney says integrating online CBT programs into routine perinatal care will mean thousands more women like Sarah Pont are able to access the mental health care they need quickly and confidentially.
Pont says the program from THIS WAY UP helped give her some structure in her days, something that is difficult to come by as the mother of a newborn.
“As someone who thrives on routine and structure, having a newborn with no difference between night and day was a shock to my system,” Pont explains.
“I was able to set aside time each day to log in and complete the coursework and this gave me some structure to my day.”
She says she would definitely recommend it to any other women who are in need of mental health support.
“There is nothing to lose by participating in the program and understanding that what you are experiencing is common and there are actions you can take NOW to lead you on the path of healing,” she said.
“The program can be accessed any time that suits you. I would recommend it to any pregnant or new mothers who might need some clarity around what they are feeling and experiencing.”
The perinatal anxiety and depression programs on offer at THIS WAY UP have been used within routine care clinics for a few years now, Dr Mahoney says.
“Over this time, we have been evaluating them and exploring the different ways women and their clinicians have been using them. Like our research trials, we’ve seen that the programs are associated with significant reductions in anxiety, depression and distress for women using them in the real-world,” she said.
“We’ve also seen that the flexibility is important when applying the programs in real life. Some women want to engage with the programs independently, while others want to work with their clinician, like their GP, midwife, psychologist, or psychiatrist.
“Some women try a program while they are waiting for face-to-face therapy, and others complete their program alongside other treatments.”
Feature Image: Sarah Pont with her daughter.