Gidget's Story: The Daughter They Lost, The Mothers They've Saved

Content Warning: This content discusses mental health issues, suicide, and peri and post-natal depression, which may be triggering for some audience members. Help is available below.  Just over 25 years ago, Louise "Gidget" Cotton became a mother for the first time. Not long after, she died by suicide after experiencing peri and postnatal depression that those around her didn't recognise in time. She left behind a heartbroken family and an eight-and-a-half-month-old daughter.  In this episode of The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories, Tiffany Dunk sits down with Louise's mum, Sue Cotton, her sisters Jacqui and Simone, who co-founded the Gidget Foundation, and her daughter Jasmine to reflect on the woman they lost, the family she left behind, and the extraordinary legacy that grew from unimaginable grief.  They share memories of the vibrant, funny young woman they knew as Gidget, the devastating aftermath of her death, and the moment they discovered there was nowhere to direct donations in her memory, sparking the creation of what has become one of Australia's leading perinatal mental health organisations.  They also open up about the realities of peri and postnatal depression, the importance of recognising the signs, and why they're determined to ensure more parents receive the support Louise never had.  Moments you’ll hear:  How a family's champagne-and-long-lunches bond set the stage for the conversation  How Louise and her husband Dave met at a party and became inseparable from their first date  Why Louise wore a red wedding dress inspired by Kerri-Anne Kennerley  How Louise fell instantly in love with motherhood the moment Jasmine was born  Why Louise's quiet plea, "What about me?", still haunts Sue today  The devastating morning Sue spoke to Louise for the very last time  The tragic way the family learned Louise had died  How Louise's nickname "Gidget" came from her bubbly, gullible charm  Why 200 people and $20,000 raised at the first memorial lunch proved how much this cause is needed  How The Gidget Foundation grew from one rented house to 45 (soon 50) locations nationally  The moment Dave finally told Jasmine the truth about how her mother died  Why Sue's letters to Louise became a source of healing over the years and how grief brought the sisters even closer than before  The family's tradition of eating Portuguese tarts and wearing red to remember Louise  Thank you for listening ❤️    If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised, help is always available. Gidget Foundation Australia offers free perinatal mental health support at www.gidgetfoundation.org.au or 1300 GIDGET (1300 443 438). Lifeline can be reached on 13 11 14.  More support services can be found here: https://www.womensweekly.com.au/health/support-services/  Before you leave...  🗣️ Get in touch  What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at www.womensweekly.com.au   Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at [email protected]  If you share your love story on social media please tag us, we're @womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories  Subscribe to The Australian Women's Weekly at www.womensweekly.com.au 👈🏽  Our special thanks to our partners at Vixin  Vixin real results, simple skincare that's a little bit fancy: vixin.com.au  Use the code LOVESTORIES for 30% off your order at Vixin now!  Credits  Host: Tiffany Dunk  Edited by Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace  Supervising Producers Leah Porges and Helen Smith  Our wonderful The Australian Women's Weekly team  Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain  Learn More: The Australian Women's Weekly website See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.