PANDA began in the early 1980’s when two women with postnatal depression (PND) were introduced to each other by their Maternal and Child Health Nurse. Each found it helpful to talk to the other so they continued to meet regularly to share their personal experiences. They increasingly found that there were more women who were interested in sharing their personal experiences and who benefited from the mutual support. Collectively the women decided to establish a support group and over time the organization of PANDA was established to cope with the demand for the need for the group.

At this time, there was very little awareness of, and very little medical information about childbirth related mood disorders. The group decided to approach a medical practitioner with a special interest in this field, from the Royal Women’s Hospital, to be available as a consultant and referral source for the women. In response to this the group held an information session at which the psychiatrist spoke about the treatment of PND. A woman who had recovered from PND and a man whose partner had experienced PND also spoke. Several hundred women and their families attended the first information session, eager to learn more about PND and to meet others going through similar experiences.

In 1985 a Committee of Management was formed and in 1986 PANDA became an incorporated association. Becoming an incorporated association came with obligations – the development of a code of ethics and a constitution. A regular informative newsletter and the development and growth of several support groups in various locations around Melbourne became a priority. PANDA’s early structure was reliant upon the availability of hard working and dedicated women who had recovered from PND to train and commit to voluntary service in either facilitating support groups or providing 24 hour telephone support service from their homes. The early volunteers worked from their homes and received demanding support calls at any time during the day or night. PANDA at this time also relied on funds raised by its volunteers.

As the need for support and awareness grew it became apparent that this type of support was invaluable to women and their families experiencing post and antenatal depression. Over time, however, the nature of PANDA’s services became unsustainable as the resources available in volunteers who were able to facilitate the support groups, support unwell women and their families or to bear the demands and intrusion of the telephone support line diminished. This trend paralleled the overall reduction in volunteer resources within the community as there were more women in the paid workforce.

A review of PANDA was conducted in 1999-2000 that resulted in a more sustainable model of operation with minimal recurrent funding from the Department of Human Services. This model saw the establishment of a telephone support Helpline that was office based and available during business hours only, answering machines that provided information to support after hours callers and the cessation of facilitation of support groups by PANDA volunteers, replaced by a database of support groups run throughout Victoria by other facilitators.

In the years that followed PANDA’s establishment it has continued to provide services to families and the mental health sector despite periods of difficulties that have threatened its viability. After several re-locations, restructures and the enormous commitment of many staff and volunteers PANDA has now consolidated its position in the mental health sector providing a critical service to the state of Victoria and Australia.