Megan Blandford
Megan Blandford wanted to write since the moment she borrowed her mum’s pen to draw in all her books. While her mother wasn’t happy with this phase, it lit a fire in Megan that led to writing in far more acceptable places.
First pursuing a successful corporate career and postgraduate studies in human resources management, Megan used the career break after the birth of her first daughter to launch a writing career. Her passion quickly became telling the real stories behind the masks that families create, sharing her mental health battles and challenges with motherhood, and noticing that her stories rang true for many others.
Megan is now a prolific freelance writer, an in-demand corporate content creator and a well-respected voice on mental health and parenting.
She writes for Sunday Life, Kidspot, SBS, Whimn, Essential Baby, Daily Life, Headspace and Body+Soul. She also writes for companies such as mental health foundation, SuperFriend.
Megan has now added book writing to her repertoire, and enjoys being able to sign her name in the front of them without being told off by her mum.
She lives on a small farm in north-east Victoria with her husband and two daughters, and enjoys the occasional foray away from her desk to travel, hike, ski, listen in to other people’s conversations for story ideas, and spend time with her family and friends.
Her writing can be seen at www.meganblandford.net.
Megan Blandford
With her career down the toilet, a husband who was never home, a baby screaming non-stop and her cries for help falling on deaf ears, Megan Blandford spent years saying, “I’m fine”. Like many who say that, she wasn’t fine. Megan sank into postnatal depression and anxiety. The story covers the challenges of parenthood, high functioning and invisible depression, the value of self-compassion in recovery, the stigma around asking for help, and the inner battle so many of us deal with daily.
Megan’s story is one of raw honesty, humour and hope. It’s a story that speaks to the three million Australians who are living with depression or anxiety, and the one in seven women who experience postnatal depression and anxiety.
“There are surprisingly few stories told about what postnatal depression is really like. This only feeds the stigma and shame that surrounds it – so it’s time to talk more openly about this experience that affects so many,” Megan says. “I really hope that, in sharing my story, I can help to break down the walls of that stigma a little more, so that others feel less lonely and more able to ask for help.”