PANDA

The latest issue of the PANDA newsletter is now available

You can read it here

PANDA is a national, not-for-profit organization that was formed in Victoria in 1985. PANDA's national Helpline provides confidential information, support and referral to anyone affected by depression and anxiety during pregnancy and after childbirth (perinatal depression and anxiety), including partners, family members and friends. PANDA also produces and distributes accurate information about perinatal depression and anxiety to health professionals and the wider community.

Our services are governed by the knowledge that women and men do recover from perinatal depression and anxiety and are designed to ensure that those affected receive appropriate help as early as possible.

PANDA offers the following services:

• Helpline support, counselling and information, provided by staff and trained volunteers
• Resources and information on antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety, and postpartum psychosis
• Information and referral details for supports and services in your area
• Information, education and training seminars for professionals and community groups
• Staff and trained volunteers as guest speakers
• Community information displays
• Regular newsletters to members

Researchers Rank Top 5 Postpartum Depression Advice Websites

Although not a specific part of PANDA’s funding agreement with the Federal Government, PANDA’s website is a vital part of the Helpline services.  The majority of callers come to the Helpline via the PANDA website with additional callers coming from links between PANDA’s site and other websites.

In December 2011 we were informed of the findings of a systematic review of postnatal mental health websites conducted by the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex in the UK.  The review was conducted between November 2009 and April 2010 and rated websites against a number of defined parameters.  Published in the Archives of Women’s Mental Health in December 2011, the results rated PANDA’s website as the top website for mothers with postnatal mental illness internationally.  Following this result contact was made with one of the researchers who emailed the following comment:

“The review listed the top five websites on postnatal mental health for healthcare professionals (based on a rating system including accuracy of information, website quality and information on assessment, treatment and additional resources) and for mothers with postnatal mental illness (based on accuracy of information, website quality and tools for mothers, support for mothers and additional resources). I'm pleased to say that PANDA was rated the number one website for mothers with postnatal mental illness! I remember being particularly impressed with the combination of detailed and accurate information and support offered for women.”

Donna Moore, University of Sussex.

The research was recently profiled in an article by Timothy Boyer on eMax Health

Researchers have determined that the majority of websites about postpartum depression offer either little or outdated advice. As a result, a systematic search using specific keywords followed by rigorous analysis of websites offering advice for postpartum depression has led researchers to rank the top 5 postpartum depression advice websites for new mothers to go to for online information and help. Click here to be taken to the full article (will open in a new window).

PANDA welcomes Booloobabe as a new sponsor of a fact sheet - Caring for someone with Postnatal Depression and
PamperBoxes as sponsor of Practical strategies for feeling better.  Thank you for your support Booloo babe and PamperBoxes!!

PANDA is seeking sponsorship for each of the fact sheet titles.  This will help us to print and distribute the fact sheets across Australia as we promote the helpline.  Sponsorship is annual and will entitle the sponsor to their logo on the front page of the fact sheet.  Please contact PANDA for more information.  Click here to see all our fact sheet titles.