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Health

Maeve Bannister

Low birth rate could intensify mental health struggles

Mental Health Georgie Dent Anxiety Australia Depression

Delaying parenthood is leaving prospective mums and dads vulnerable to mental health challenges. (Jane Dempster/AAP PHOTOS)

Australia's record low fertility rate underscores the need for greater access to parental paid leave and perinatal mental health support as experts warn the unintended consequences are far-reaching.

The most recent data sets on birth from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed there were 292,318 babies born in 2024, up 1.9 per cent from 2023.

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