SIDS and Kids SA expands counselling services

Hundreds of South Australian families will now have access to much-needed bereavement counselling with SIDS and Kids SA expanding its services to now support South Australian families who experience the death of their baby prior to 20 weeks gestation.

Previously, SIDS and Kids SA’s free counselling service was available to families who had experienced the death of their child from 20 weeks gestation up to 6 years.

Launching the expansion, SIDS and Kids SA CEO Dr Samantha Mead says that the organisation identified the need to fill a gap in supporting South Australian families who have experienced infant loss.   

“SIDS and Kids SA are committed to supporting South Australian families who have experienced the death of their child during pregnancy, birth and childhood. The unexpected death of a baby, at whatever stage, is extremely distressful for a family,” Dr Mead says.

“Infant loss is an area that is sensitive and often not spoken about. We’re pleased to now be able to extend support services to these families so that they know that they’re not alone.”

“While we are well-known for our association with SIDS research and support, we find the community is not as widely aware of our work in other areas. We support families who have had infants and children die from a range of sudden death, such as stillbirth, prematurity, illness, motor accidents and drowning.”

Founded by a group of bereaved parents in 1977, and then known as the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Association of South Australia, the organisation was initially formed to educate the community and fundraise towards research in to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The introduction of the SIDS Safe Sleeping campaign in 1988 saw an 85% decline in SIDS deaths and provided the South Australian organisation with the opportunity to expand in to other areas.

Today, SIDS and Kids SA has a broader charter beyond SIDS encompassing support for families who experience the sudden unexpected death of an infant or child from conception to 6 years of age, education programs to reduce infant mortality and funding of research to find the causes of these deaths.

The services of SIDS and Kids SA are almost totally reliant on the generosity of the South Australian community and donations to the organisation can be made via their website at www.sidsandkids.org/offices/south-australia

Funds raised support a 24-hour crisis support service, SIDS and Kids SA’s free and professional counselling service and community education to reduce the incidence of SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents.

For more information please contact:
Natalie Ciccocioppo at Hughes PR – natalie@hughespr.com.au or 8412 1400