Dr Madelyne Bisby, Macquarie University Research Fellow, of Psychological Sciences

Macquarie University and the Liptember Foundation have come together for a groundbreaking project aimed at providing crucial support for women facing mental health challenges.

The partnership, which commenced on 4 September, is an important step towards the advancement of mental health research and ensuring accessible care for women across Australia.

The Liptember Foundation, renowned for its commitment to women’s mental health, collaborates with experts, advocates and allies to raise awareness and funds for vital women’s health outcomes. The Foundation’s mission is to empower every woman to achieve optimal mental wellbeing by addressing gaps in mental health programs, initiatives, support services and research. Macquarie is proud to receive the inaugural grant from the Victoria-based foundation. Over the next two years, the $87,000 in funding will support the development of an online single-session perinatal course targeting women dealing with anxiety and depression.

Since 2010, the flagship Liptember fundraising campaign has encouraged individuals to wear lipstick throughout September, offering a fun and easy way to raise awareness and vital funds.

At the forefront of this collaboration is Dr Madelyne Bisby (pictured above), a Research Fellow from the Department of Psychological Sciences. Dr Bisby underscores the importance of providing accessible and effective mental health care for new and expectant mothers, given approximately 20 per cent experience perinatal depression or anxiety (PNDA) each year.

Central to the collaboration is the development and evaluation of an ultra-brief, single-session treatment tailored for women struggling with PNDA. The treatment’s design will be carefully moulded by the firsthand experiences and needs of women who have faced PNDA and aims to support women through this period.

The partnership’s benefits extend beyond research and the project holds the potential to alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms among participants. Moreover, it aims to develop an innovative and succinct treatment approach that can be widely adopted, enhancing mental health care accessibility for women everywhere.

It is hoped the project will help shape the landscape of women’s mental health care for years to come.