PANDA's website ranked No.1

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Researchers have determined that the majority of websites about postpartum depression offer either little or outdated advice.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).