Nelson hairdresser Genna Wells is raising awareness of perinatal depression by gifting nine mums a new hairdo.
The idea was prompted by a campaign by the organisation ‘Mothers Matter’, which shared a three minute video depicting a young girl in an abusive relationship who falls pregnant.
Her partner leaves, and with no support the young mum can’t cope and takes her own life shortly after her baby is born.
“I cried and cried, it just broke my heart,” Genna says.
She then thought, ‘what can I do to help?’
Genna says a lot of the time it is easy to see something on TV and then carry on with life not trying to do anything about it.
“It’s like out of sight, out of mind, but this one I just couldn’t. Maybe it was because I’d recently had another child.”
She then thought back to being a new mum when she was going through hardship herself.
“A friend of mine came around to my house, cut my hair and cooked me tea. I will never forget it, I felt like a million bucks after that.
“Before that, I was trying to cut my own hair, just getting by, counting pennies and all that kind of stuff. She did that for me and I’ll never forget it.”
Genna knew she could do the same for other mums.
Already juggling work and family, she settled on being able to help one mum a month, for nine months – the span of a pregnancy.
She has had total support from friends, clients and strangers who have donated knitting, baked goods, money, baby items and pamper gifts to create goody bags for the struggling mums.
The first mother was referred from the Women’s Centre but after that they have come via Facebook.
"You think you’re having a bad day sometimes, but what some of these mums are going through is just incredible. I’ve met some really special people,” Genna says.
Genna received a message from one of the women after her haircut which read:
“You treated me so well in my time of need and I’m so thankful.”
She then went on to refer another new mum.
Genna says that sums up what the project has been about and says it’s created an environment in her salon where people can openly talk about depression.
“One thing that’s clear is it’s all walks of life, it doesn’t have to be someone in an abusive relationship or with no money. It can be a hard-working career woman who is suddenly at home with a crying baby.”
Genna will see her final mum in December, just in time for Christmas.
