Dr Yumna Dhansay
Child and Family Psychiatrist,
Perinatal Psychiatrist, Adult Psychiatrist and Forensic Psychiatrist
Links & Resources
Emergency support (000)
If you or someone you care about is in a crisis, requiring immediate help, call triple zero (000) or present to your nearest hospital's emergency department as soon as possible.
Crisis Lines providing 24-hour support
Lifeline
Telephone: 13 11 14
Web: www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue
Telephone: 1300 22 4636
Suicide Call Back Service
Telephone: 1300 659 467
Provides phone and online counselling for anyone who is struggling with situations in their life, from feeling low or stressed to the more complex issues of suicidal thoughts and grief arising from suicide.
Pregnancy and infant loss support services
We are so sorry if you or a loved one has experienced the loss of a pregnancy or infant. There are a number of organisations that offer support to individuals or couples trying to navigate this incredibly painful and personal journey. These include:
Pink Elephants
Provides information and support for women through miscarriage, pregnancy loss and beyond. The group supports women through their grief, nurtures them as they heal and empower them as they move into the future. There are a number of resources available in their website including useful information about miscarriage stages, support brochures and downloadable resources.
Bears of Hope
Bears of Hope Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support provides leading support and care for families who experience the loss of their baby.
Telephone: 1300 11 HOPE
Email: contact@bearsofhope.org.au
Red Nose Grief and Loss (formerly SIDS & KIDS)
Red Nose offers services to those affected by the death of a baby or child who dies suddenly and unexpectedly regardless of the cause of death. They offer counselling (phone or face to face) as well as support groups for individuals/couples. The website is a great source of information and a good place to start.
Telephone: 1300 308 307
Email: support@rednose.com.au
Sands (Miscarriage, Stillbirth & Newborn Death Support
SANDS is a national not-for-profit organisation working to provide support, information and education to bereaved parents, their families and Healthcare Professionals.
SANDS parent supporters are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone: 1300 072637
Email: info@sands.org.au
Web: www.sands.org.au
Stillbirth Foundation
The Stillbirth Foundation Australia is the only Australian charity dedicated to stillbirth research and has some wonderful online support.
Whilst the Stillbirth Foundation is not a bereavement support program, they are a leading research organisation striving to reduce the incidences of stillbirth.
Telephone: 02 9557 9070
Pregnancy after loss support
Pregnancy After Loss Support (PALS) is a community support resource for women experiencing the confusing and conflicting emotions of grief mixed with joy during the journey through pregnancy after loss. PALS seeks to help expectant mothers celebrate their current pregnancy by choosing hope over fear while still nurturing and honoring the grief over the loss of their deceased child.
Multiple Births
Any of the above associations will provide support for bereaved multiple birth families however, support specifically for multiple pregnancy loss may be found at the:
Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA)
Multiple Birth Association Bereavement Support Group (M-BABS) was formed to provide a means of communication for bereaved multiple birth families and surviving multiples and to act as a forum for sharing of information relating to the unique aspects of loss for a multiple birth family.
Email: bereavement@amba.org.au
Web: www.amba.org.au/families/support/specialist-support/bereavement
For bereaved fathers
Any of the above associations will provide support for bereaved fathers, however, support specifically for fathers may be found below:
Red Nose (Men’s Grief Support Library)
Sands (Men’s support line)
Sands dedicated male Volunteer Parent Supporters understand the grief and confusion you may be experiencing, as they too have had a baby who has died.
Perhaps you are a bereaved father/grandfather who would prefer to chat to another male about your grief. Or perhaps you are a bereaved mother or grandmother, or other family member who would like support to understand the grief experience from a male perspective.
Pillars of Strength
Pillars of Strength is the only organisation in Australia that provides services exclusively for bereaved fathers. It offers support to men in their grief journey through the provision of timeout events and opportunities to create new communities and networks with others experiencing similar losses.
Perinatal support services
Perinatal anxiety and depression Australia (PANDA)
Perinatal anxiety and depression Australia (PANDA)
National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline
Telephone: 1300 726 306
Web: www.panda.org.au
Gidget Foundation
Provides free psychological services for mothers and fathers suffering perinatal anxiety and depression. Parents are eligible for up to 10 visits with a psychologist under the Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative.
Telephone: 1300 851 758
contact@gidgethouse.org.au
Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE)
Helping parents feel prepared and reassured for the emotional realities and challenges of pregnancy and early parenthood.
Mind the bump
Free mindfulness meditation App to help individuals and couples support their mental and emotional wellbeing in preparation for having a baby and becoming a new parent.
