A new survey by The Pink Elephants Support Network reveals that 407 Australians who have experienced early pregnancy loss have highlighted the types of support available to and accessed by people following their pregnancy losses — including unacceptable barriers to access.

The Pink Elephants Support Network is Australia’s leading early pregnancy loss support charity that provides the latest resources, information and peer support for anyone impacted by early pregnancy loss.

Some key statistics from The State of Early Pregnancy Loss Report include:

• 40% of respondents reported experiencing barriers to accessing support following their early pregnancy loss.

• Respondents were almost equally as interested in information about the emotional aspects of loss (64%) as they were about the physical aspects of loss (67%).

• More than half of respondents (51%) indicated they wanted to talk to another individual who had experienced an early pregnancy loss following their own loss (i.e. peer support).

• An overwhelming majority (85%) accessed support from their personal networks immediately following early pregnancy loss, with only half (55%) seeking support from health and medical professionals.

• More than double the amount of respondents said they wanted access to a counsellor (48%), than those who actually sought help from these professionals (20%) in the general aftermath of early pregnancy loss.

Of the open-ended responses shared about specific barriers to accessing support, respondents mentioned challenges in navigating health services without guidance — such as having to research information about pregnancy loss management themselves, and a lack of referral pathways to services such as fertility specialists or emotional support services like Pink Elephants.

Others reported feelings of isolation, particularly those that live outside metropolitan areas, and hesitations in accessing support via social media.

“Despite over 100,000 Australians experiencing this profound physical and emotional health issue each year, early pregnancy loss is continually minimised and ignored when it comes to ongoing government funding, research, and formal support pathways,” says Samantha Payne, Co-Founder and CEO of Pink Elephants.

“Organisations like Pink Elephants are not resourced to meet the demands for our services or deliver the types of services people clearly need following their loss.”

Related: Sam Payne of Pink Elephants for early pregnancy loss support bill

Australian Medical Association (SA) President Dr Michelle Atchison, shared that miscarriage is so often a ‘hidden’ loss, and many women and their partners experiencing early pregnancy loss are unable to share or discuss their loss in the midst of their grief and confusion.

“We congratulate Pink Elephants for the emphatic advocacy that led to the passing of Australia’s ‘Leave for Loss’ legislation in 2021, and hope to continue working with you to improve the care and emotional and physical support for all experiencing early pregnancy loss,” said Australian Medical Association (SA) President Dr Michelle Atchison.

“Miscarriage is so often a ‘hidden’ loss, with many women and their partners experiencing early pregnancy loss unable to share or discuss their loss in the midst of their grief and confusion.”

“The Australian Medical Association in South Australia recognises and appreciates the very valuable work of Pink Elephants in helping these women and all who experience early pregnancy loss in Australia.”