Latest news with #CaitlynGribbin
ABC News
15-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Birth trauma link to poor mental health
Becoming a mum is supposed to be a joyous occasion, but sadly for many women, the injuries they sustain giving birth cause serious physical and psychological issues. News surveys found delays in getting a timely diagnosis are compounding the problems. Those who struggle to get a diagnosis are 2.4 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts. Here's National Health Equity reporter, Caitlyn Gribbin. Caitlyn Gribbin: Kristy Keefe is soaking up the special moments with her dinosaur-loving son. Riley is six years old and the Brisbane mum's second child. Kristy Keefe: I absolutely love motherhood. I feel like I was made to be a mother. Caitlyn Gribbin: But in the months following Riley's birth, things were very different. He was unexpectedly born at home and a medical emergency followed. Kristy Keefe: They found out that I had a fourth-degree tear because of my placenta being stuck. I was hemorrhaging quite bad. Caitlyn Gribbin: The birth injury led to incontinence, triggering feelings of dread and isolation for Kristy Keefe. Kristy Keefe: Really anxious. I didn't want to be left alone with my baby. And I had times where I thought about ending my life. Caitlyn Gribbin: It's been more than a year since a landmark inquiry in New South Wales heard traumatic birth experiences, including pelvic floor damage and incontinence, can have tragic mental health consequences. Now, a new survey from advocacy group Birth Trauma Australia finds the longer it takes to diagnose those injuries, the more catastrophic the consequences. Chief Executive, Amy Dawes. Amy Dawes: We found that women that had struggled to get a diagnosis, they were 2.4 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts. I have heard firsthand accounts of women sharing their experiences of being in a really dark place and struggling to get care. Nisha Khot: It is a complete disaster. I mean, it's just a sign that we have failed women. Caitlyn Gribbin: Nisha Khot is president-elect of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She points to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Research showing suicide is one of the leading causes of maternal death during pregnancy and up to six weeks after pregnancy. And while it's not known if those women were suffering from birth trauma, the obstetrician believes they are intertwined. Nisha Khot: If you have physical trauma and you're struggling with your body functions, that is going to affect you psychologically as well. That has such huge implications for you to be able to just lead a normal life. You can't do any of these things because of your incontinence. That is bound to have a huge impact on your mental well-being. How could it not? Caitlyn Gribbin: State governments in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia say they're spending new money on perinatal mental health care and birth trauma policies. Advocates say it's positive to see more investment and education of health care workers, but more is needed. Kristy Keefe: You love cuddles, don't you? Yeah, and mum, look! Yeah! Caitlyn Gribbin: And after her struggle to get help in the public health system, Kristy Keefe agrees. Kristy Keefe: If I didn't go and get that help and pay all that money to go and see that private gynaecologist, that maybe I wouldn't be here today. Sabra Lane: Brisbane mum, Kristy Keefe, ending Caitlyn Gribbin's report. And if this story has raised concerns for you or anyone you know, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
ABC News
01-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Prescription drug overdoses driving death toll
Isabella Higgins: In just one year, more than 2,000 Australians died of a drug overdose. Most were unintentional deaths. That's the stark headline figure of new analysis being released this week looking into drug-induced deaths. And advocates say illegal drugs aren't the only problem. Here's National Health Equity reporter, Caitlyn Gribbin. Caitlyn Gribbin: There's a stereotype about drug-related deaths that John Ryan wants to put a stop to. John Ryan : That idea that it's only illegal drugs is wrong. The overdose toll is actually made up of some people that inject drugs, definitely, but much of the overdose toll is people that are using pharmaceutical drugs, prescription drugs. Caitlyn Gribbin: John Ryan's the chief executive of the Penington Institute, a not-for-profit drug research group. It's released new research revealing 189 fatal overdoses every four weeks. Proof, Mr Ryan insists, that a new approach is needed to deal with dangerous drug use. John Ryan : We're losing the equivalent of a Boeing 737 full of Australians every month. The overdose toll has long exceeded the road toll. Caitlyn Gribbin: Early analysis of the report breaks down the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data on drug-induced deaths, which is from 2023. Overdose deaths were down 6% on the previous year, but John Ryan says figures will increase when ABS data revisions come in. The numbers are confronting, with nearly 2,300 people dying of a drug overdose. More than three-quarters were unintentional deaths. Opioids such as heroin and pharmaceutical opioids remain the most common drug type involved in unintentional deaths, contributing to almost half. But the proportion of drug-related fatalities involving stimulants such as methamphetamine and also cocaine increased on previous years. Amanda Roxburgh : Australia is a major destination for methamphetamine. We've got high numbers of large seizures being detected at our borders. Caitlyn Gribbin: Amanda Roxburgh, a senior research fellow and clinical psychologist at medical research organisation the Burnet Institute, says the highly potent crystal methamphetamine is the predominant stimulant drug now being used in Australia. Amanda Roxburgh : We're not only seeing increases in deaths related to methamphetamine, but we're also seeing increases in methamphetamine-related hospitalisations. So it's relatively cheap to buy and it's really readily available. Caitlyn Gribbin: The Penington analysis also found drug-induced deaths involving stimulants overtook benzodiazepines like Valium as the second most common drug type involved in fatal overdoses. Most drug overdoses are polysubstance overdoses. They involve more than one drug. John Ryan says pharmaceutical opioids such as codeine and oxycodone and those from the benzodiazepine family such as diazepam or Valium are commonly involved in overdose deaths. John Ryan : The daughter of a friend of mine who went through a messy divorce ended up on benzodiazepines to manage the stress and anxiety and one night drank a bit more red wine than normal, fell asleep on the couch and was found dead the next day. An absolutely tragic example of a middle-aged woman with two young children who died from a combination of prescribed pharmaceuticals and alcohol. Most of these deaths are occurring in private homes and often it's lounge rooms in suburbia and regional and rural towns. Caitlyn Gribbin: Mr Ryan says only a small amount of funding goes to harm reduction such as overdose education, the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, drug testing and safe injecting facilities. A much bigger share goes to law enforcement. The full overdose report will be out this year. Isabella Higgins: Caitlin Gribbin reporting. In a statement the Federal Department of Health says the National Drug Strategy provides a commitment to harm minimisation through a balanced adoption of evidence-based demand, supply and harm reduction strategies.
