Australian Young Mothers’ Experience of Mental Health and Wellbeing During Their Perinatal Journey

Arianne Reis, Christa Lam-Cassettari, Catharine Fleming, Kaitlyn Brunacci, Debra Mainwaring, Fiona Webber, Renée Sharpe, Rowena Saheb, Jacki Montgomery, Sumithira Joseph, Andrea Earl, Brianna Hingston, Dara Roche, Eunice Edmunds, Hiro Kojo, Jasmyn Mosley, Jeannie Kwok, Kulsum Akter, Latoya Corbett, Phoebe Heperi, Shari Sabatini, Sumaiya Rafa, Virginia Schmied

Youth & Society

Published online on February 08, 2026

Abstract

Youth & Society, Ahead of Print.
This study explored young Australian mothers’ (aged 16–24) perinatal mental health and wellbeing using Participatory Action Research. Co-design workshops with 80 young mothers revealed three themes: (1)The Emotional Tides of Young Motherhood, capturing ...