Did you know that postnatal depression affects around 10-20% of New Zealand women? In addition, many pregnant women are living with existing mental health issues. The registered charity Dayspring Trust provides a lifeline to these wāhine, offering community support and counselling services.
‘The mother’s wellbeing means families can flourish and grow, ultimately affecting the health of our communities,’ explains Chief Executive Office Sheena Duffy Vakatale.
Based in New Lynn, Dayspring Trust was set up over 40 years ago by a group of mums in The West who saw an unmet need. The organisation may have grown since those early days, but its heart is firmly in West Auckland, and the need remains great. Sheena says there’s still a stigma around maternal mental health, which can get in the way of mothers seeking the help they need.
She advises that Dayspring Trust received 305 new referrals last year, mainly from West Aucklanders experiencing postnatal trauma or mental health issues.
Support to these mums comes in a range of ways, including parenting programmes and activity-based group classes at the New Lynn site Care Centre from Tuesday to Friday during term times. The centre is a place for mothers to connect with others and reduces the sense of isolation new mums often experience. Life skills programmes and activity-based groups have included nutrition, art therapy, crafts, exercise and mindfulness workshops.
Sheena says the Care Centre has an on-site creche. ‘This means parents and caregivers can attend our programmes without the childcare barrier,’ she reports. And it means wāhine can have some much-needed time to focus on their wellbeing, knowing their child is safe nearby.
Counselling services are another vital aspect of Dayspring’s work. ‘Counsellors support mothers in developing life skills, identity, security, and resilience,’ Sheena advises. She adds that clients can receive as many counselling sessions as they need to achieve wellness.
Demand for counselling services continues growing, and the charity applied for help from the Your West Support Fund. The $10,000 funding has had a significant impact, providing more certainty for this much-needed service. ‘We couldn’t have run the service this year without the Your West Support Fund,’ declares Sheena.
You can access Dayspring Trust’s services through a referral from your GP, Plunket, or maternal mental health team. You can also get in touch directly via the website.
