The Peregrine Centre offers small research grants for projects focused on rural mental health practice in NSW. Here is a summary of one of the projects we have supported as part of our Small Grants scheme.
Project Team: Dr Cassandra Sundaraja, Melanie Kelly, Dr Jyoti Chaku, Dr Joseph Turner, Dr Amy Lykins, Dr Suzanne Cosh, Dr Phillip Tully, Dr Hayley Farrell, Dr Anand Swamy
Researchers from the University of New England conducted a pilot-trial to explore a new way to support postpartum women in regional NSW who have experienced traumatic births. The program, informed by narrative therapy techniques, is designed to help women feel heard, supported, and connected—especially in areas where mental health services are limited.
Although the sample size is too small for formal statistical analysis, it is encouraging to see that 5 out of 6 participants reported reduced Postpartum Depression, Anxiety, and Childbirth Trauma scores during the intervention period, compared with zero reported reductions during the waitlist period. Participants volunteered feedback that they valued the safe space for reflection and expressed a desire for the program to be more widely available, particularly for women two to three months postpartum.
Evaluation assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the telehealth group program for postpartum women with traumatic birth experiences, exploring key therapeutic themes, and examining preliminary effects on depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms..
Interested in learning more about research? You could try our Building Research Capacity workbook. You need to have a Peregrine Portal account, however sign-up is free.
