Episode 39. The Valley Below, collective voices, sharing experiences of postnatal anxiety & depression through song with Oneewa McDowell from Blackbird Songwriting

For national PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) week, this episode is a little bit different. Oneewa McDowell joins me to share how her sister Shara Hala'api'api and herself came together with 12 other women to create a song, a collective voice for others who may be experiencing or have experienced postpartum mental health challenges. 

The raw and real, yet inspiring song is woven throughout Oneewa sharing. The song goes deep and touches on the very real aspects of postpartum mental health experiences. Please reach out for support if you are feeling sad, depressed, anxious and alone, as the voices within the song did and slowly found healing and connection. See links to hotlines to call below.

For the project, Oneewa and Shara spoke with 12 women about their experiences of postnatal depression & anxiety. The aim was to honour and acknowledge the stories of these mothers, and to give a voice to their experiences through song.

A song that we hope will reach a mother who will find she is not alone in her journey;

A song that we hope will bring some comfort and understanding to a mother who is struggling;

A song that may inspire a mother to tell her own story.

Listen and let the song speak for itself.

Oneewa and Shara want to express our deepest gratitude to the 12 mothers who have been involved in the project, for sharing their story with such honesty and openness, and for making this project possible.

Also to acknowledge PANDA and the Gidget Foundation for their support in connecting us with the women involved in this project.

The song was released and shared during PANDA/Perinatal Mental Health Week, 8th-14th November, 2020.

If you would like to share the song also, that would be wonderful and you can share the link to the youtube video - website page - facebook

Song written and performed by Shara Hala'api'api on vocals and harmonies and Oneewa McDowell on piano/keys and harmonies of Blackbird Songwriting

Hotlines:

PANDA 1300 726 306

Gidget Foundation 1300 851 758

Lifeline 13 11 14

To find out more about me, Shelley McClure and Pollination Mamas Website - Instagram - Facebook

Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast do not constitute medical or professional advice, do not reflect the opinions of this business, any of its parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, promotional sponsors, or advertising agencies, and do not create any type of patient-physician relationship or other professional relationship between the audience and presenters. No person viewing any podcast from this website should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of a podcast without first seeking appropriate professional advice and/or counselling, nor shall the information be used as a substitute for professional advice and/or counselling.  Pollination Mamas expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this site.