Jenny Morrison opens up on her ‘isolation and exhaustion’ as a new mum – and how she learned to cope with her husband’s long absences
- Jenny Morrison visited Gidget, a mental health group for new mums
- She spoke about facing ‘exhaustion and isolation’ when husband Scott was away
- She turned to her doctor, friends and family for help with peri-natal depression
Jenny Morrison has opened up about the ‘exhaustion and isolation’ she suffered as a new mother when her husband Scott Morrison was away on Prime Ministerial duties.
Ms Morrison, 53, was speaking about her experiences of peri-natal depression after the couple’s girls Abbey and Lily were born 14 and 12 years ago.
‘When our daughters arrived, Scott was travelling to Canberra for parliament and feelings of exhaustion and isolation began to creep in,’ she said.
Jenny Morrison (left) said ‘feelings of exhaustion and isolation’ were an issue for her as a mum when Scott would travel to Canberra for parliament
The Morrisons at Government House, from left: Lily, Jenny, Scott, Abbey and Scott’s mother Marion
Ms Morrison, a former registered nurse, spoke to while visiting the Gidget Foundation, a group formed to help new mums with their emotional wellbeing, The Daily Telegraph reported.
‘I learned that it is so important to reach out for help, say “yes” when that help is offered and to talk to others,’ Ms Morrison said.
‘Thankfully I had a wonderful doctor, a great group of friends and family to help me. Knowing that you’re not alone can be the first step in managing peri-natal anxiety and depression.’
Scott and Jenny Morrison have been married 31 years.
They met when they were just 12 years old when their families both had a day at Luna Park, despite both growing up in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.
They officially started dating at 16 and got married at 21.
But their marriage was not without its struggles – the couple have spoken about their years long battle to have a child.
Now Mrs Morrison has spoken about the difficulties of being a new mum.
The Gidget Foundation was named after Louise ‘Gidget’ Blacker, a Sydney mum who took her life while suffering postnatal depression.
Post-natal depression is a condition one in six women experience up a year after a birth, while one in 10 mothers suffer antenatal depression during pregnancy.
Peri-natal depression is a term used to cover all types of depression associated with pregnancy and being a new mum. It can also reoccur during and after subsequent pregnancies.
Mrs Morrison said that many new parents ‘don’t where to turn to for support.’
Jenny Morrison got through her peri-natal depression with the help of her doctor, family and friends
Jenny Morrison (pictured centre) with women from peri-natal support group The Gidget Foundation
Gidget Foundation CEO Arabella Gibson said requests for help have dramatically increased during Covid.
She explained the foundation has seen a 122 per cent increase in demand.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Gidget Foundation 1300 851 758