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According to new statistics, the number of Australian men and women suffering from the debilitating illness each year could fill 184 jumbo jets.

In NSW alone that is 8900 men and 15,200 women, according to Greater Southern Area Health Service perinatal mental health coordinator Alison Cook.

Postnatal depression has a higher profile these days, and Ms Cook wants shire residents to know the signs.

“The statistics are one in five over a lifetime,” Ms Cook said.

“I think that’s quite a high prevalence because I imagine that it would be under reported due to the stigma that’s attached.”

Using the backdrop of Post Natal Depression Week - November 15 to 21, Ms Cook said a higher number of men and women experienced postnatal depression than was documented.

“A lot of them don’t know it,” she said. “They are parents to a new baby and they think their feelings are normal.”

Diagnosing postnatal depression can be difficult because the warning signs are relatively normal symptoms for parents of a new baby - lack of sleep, crying for no reason, irritability, lack of or an increase in appetite, loss of energy.

However, Ms Cook said that, combined, these symptoms could signal something far more serious.

“Lack of sleep is normal but it can become a problem if, when people do get an opportunity to sleep, they have racing thoughts and lie awake staring at the ceiling,” she said.

“The challenge is recognising that a combination of these things is not normal.”

Ms Cook said changes in sleeping patterns were the real indicator of an underlying mental illness.

“I would say two weeks is long enough to know,” she said.

“If you’re feeling really miserable, it’s important to go and see a sympathetic GP, someone you can talk to, because postnatal depression is really very treatable.”

The earlier the treatment, the better the outcome, according to Ms Cook.

“Exercise and putting in place social supports that work, as well as looking after yourself, can all be effective ways of dealing with postnatal depression,” she said.

“Postnatal depression not only affects parents, it affects the whole family and the wider community.

“If symptoms of depression are not treated it can lead to problems including difficulties bonding with children, difficulties in the marriage, financial stress, employment difficulties, drug and alcohol abuse, anger management issues, and suicide.”

For information visit www.beyondblue.org.au.