Pregnancy and the first year of parenthood (called the perinatal period) can bring significant changes to a person’s life. If the challenges for expecting and new parents become an overwhelming mental struggle, they may experience perinatal depression or anxiety.
Perinatal depression and anxiety affect almost 100,000 Australians each year, equating to one in five expecting and new mums and one in 10 expecting and new dads.
With many expecting and new parents being affected by anxiety and isolation due to COVID-19 and associated restrictions this year, it is more important than ever to support families facing mental health challenges.
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) provides the only national helpline dedicated to perinatal anxiety and depression, and postnatal psychosis. It offers information, counselling and referral to expecting and new mothers and fathers, and their families and friends, in metropolitan, rural and remote areas. It also supports health professionals.
PANDA Week 2020 (8 – 14 November) aims to raise awareness about mental illness that affects women and men who are expecting a baby, or those in the first year after their baby’s birth.
The theme for PANDA Week 2020 is ‘Tell someone who cares’. It’s vital that expecting and new parents who are struggling know they’re not alone. They can reach out for help from PANDA, perinatal mental health specialists, other health professionals, or family members.
PANDA is encouraging the community to share information and messages from its newly released PANDA Week 2020 digital toolkit. Feel free to dip in and share whatever takes your fancy!
PANDA’s live webinar for care providers, ‘Essential Skills to Support Perinatal Mental Health: Six Approaches for Your Practice Toolbox’, has sold out but a recording will be available on-demand from 17 November.
Support, resources and more information
- PANDA National Helpline, Mon to Fri, 9am – 7.30pm: 1300 726 306
- PANDA website
- Fact sheets for family members and health practitioners
- PANDA resources catalogue for health professionals
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