Gisborne Local Makes a Difference in the Lives of at-Risk Families

Saturday 5th December is International Volunteer's Day, and Mothers Helpers is celebrating the work of the last five years of what has been a completely volunteer-based service helping mothers at-risk or suffering with perinatal depression/anxiety. The day marks the official handing over of General Management from founder Kristina Paterson to Gisborne local Paula Neshausen who continues the role in a volunteer capacity.

Paula attributes her ability to juggle commitments to her four children, her fulltime study in Psychology and Rehabilitation with Massey University, running a small business and volunteering with Mothers Helpers to the immense help and support from her partner Jason. She explains why she chooses to volunteer when she is already so busy: "Maternal Mental Health is something I'm intensely passionate about after having my own very long and painful maternal mental health journey." Paula was diagnosed with Post-partum Psychosis following the birth of her youngest child. She has been well for five years now, and attributes that wellness to taking good care of herself and having a strong support network in the form of her partner and friends. It's that kind of holistic approach to wellness that Mothers Helpers takes with their Perinatal Depression Recovery course.

I am very honoured to be the General Manager of Mothers Helpers," says Paula, "If I can help just one person to not experience what I went through and help them see that it really is a journey you can come out the other side of, then that would be amazing beyond words."

General Manager of Mothers Helpers and Gisborne local Paula Neshausen

"Another motivator for volunteering with Mothers Helpers is to be a voice - a very loud one - and try and get Perinatal Distress and Depression talked about rather than whispered about... we need to stop the stigma and educate people about PND."

Currently, Mothers Helpers does not have a local branch in Gisborne. They require a volunteer with strong leadership/management skills to set up a branch in Gisborne so that courses can be provided to mothers who have developed Perinatal Depression and at-risk mothers can be supported. Those interested in the role should contact recruit@mothershelpers.org.nz

In the meantime, Mothers Helpers provides an online Perinatal Depression Recovery course to Gisborne mothers. Enquiries can be made at www.mothershelpers.org.nz or 0800-002-717.

ENDS

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