THE GOOD ENOUGH MOTHER PODCAST

Perinatal Suicidality

with PANDA CEO Julie Borninkhof and Dr Laura Biggs

Content note: perinatal suicidality

In this episode Sophie speaks with midwife and Research Fellow Dr Laura Biggs, and CEO of PANDA Australia, Julie Borninkhof about the Making Sense of the Unseen partnership between the Stronger Futures CRE and the Murdoch Children’s REsearch Institute, PANDA Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia, and James Cook University.

In the episode you’ll hear discussed key findings from ground-breaking research conducted by the team on experiences of perinatal suicidality, the first study of its kind ever to be carried out. Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in Australia and other high-income countries and yet so far, we’ve known little about women’s experiences of suicidality at this time in their lives. As discussed in this episode, the research identified that perinatal suicidality is driven by experiences of shame, and feelings of being disconnected and ‘defective’ as a mother.

We talk about how societal pressures and the perfect mother myth narrative profoundly impact women’s mental health, and share stories from the research that demonstrate the profound importance of compassionate care and rehumanising relationships and care experiences for mothers. This episode is an especially important listen for all of those who work in healthcare and/or with mothers.

We want to acknowledge the 139 women who shared their experiences of perinatal suicidality with the research team, as without their generosity, this research and this conversation on the podcast sharing these important findings would not be possible.

Support lines
Australia - www.panda.org.au/ - 1300 726 306
@pandanational @lifelineaustralia @13yarn
UK - pandasfoundation.org.uk/ - 0808 1961 776
USA - www.postpartum.net/ - Text “Help” to 800-944-4773 (EN)
The EU/EEA - Mental health helpline - 116 123

  • "When women feel that they are defective, are unworthy of love and belonging, and do not possess what it takes to be a good mother, they can conclude that their family is better off without them."

    — Dr Laura Biggs

  • "Every parent is faulty, every parent struggles. Every parent struggles to adjust their identity at some point through that journey, and being faulty is part of the richness that we bring to this."

    — Julie Borninkhof

  • "If we just get better at talking about health and well-being in a mental frame for people who are planning, pregnant, or have a new baby, then we can catch these experiences early."

    — Dr Laura Biggs

  • "Some days you're going to love your life as a mum and you're going to love your baby, and some days you're not, you know, and that's okay."

    - Julie Borninkhof

Meet Julie Borninkhof

Julie is a passionate and recognised not-for-profit, for-purpose leader who has been with PANDA since 2019. Julie is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked across primary and tertiary settings, namely with people from vulnerable and diverse communities. She is passionate about ensuring that people’s lived experience informs the development of progressive systems and responsive services. Julie loves leading the dedicated team at PANDA.

Meet Dr Laura Biggs

Dr Biggs is a midwife and Research Fellow in the Intergenerational Health group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Her program of research focuses on the use of innovative qualitative methodologies and methods to generate deeper understandings of complex social and health phenomena, including maternal suicidality and intergenerational trauma. Laura is passionate about the use of creative qualitative research methods to reimagine health and social care in partnership with marginalised communities and health and social care professionals.

Connect with Laura: @l_biggs

— Julie Borninkhof, CEO of PANDA Australia

"About 13 to 18% of our callers, when they reach out to us, have not unpacked that conversation with any healthcare provider... If one member of those care teams that are wrapping around people could have that conversation: golden."

Learn more about the Making Sense of the Unseen Study

Making Sense of the Unseen is a partnership between the Stronger Futures CRE and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, PANDA Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia, and James Cook University.

139 women shared their experiences of perinatal suicidality with us. Without their generosity, this study would not have been possible.

We have identified that the evolution of perinatal suicidality is driven by experiences of shame and feelings of disconnection and defectiveness. When women feel that they are defective, unworthy of love and belonging, and do not possess what it takes to be a good mother, they can conclude that their family is better off without them.

Importantly, pathways beyond shame and perinatal suicidality can be facilitated by compassionate and rehumanising relationships and care experiences that enable women to feel worthy, deserving of love and belonging, and that their families are better off with them.