"PND, it’s OK to TALK about it"

14 - 20 November, 2010

PANDA’s annual awareness campaign during PND Awareness Week highlights that many parents who experience depression and anxiety during pregnancy and after birth are not being diagnosed and that postnatal depression is now a major issue for men as well as women.  Staggeringly there are now enough men suffering from postnatal depression each year in Australia to physically fill 68 jumbo jets (over 28,500 men) and enough women to physically fill 116 jumbo jets (over 48,400 women). It is PANDA’s belief that the community is yet to get to grips with the true extent of this huge problem which can tear lives apart and sometimes lead to suicide.

PANDA also focuses on grandparents and urges all grandparents to be especially vigilant when their own children become a mum or dad. PANDA highlights that grandparents can help by checking that the new parents are being supported and that if they have concerns they should be urging the person to see a GP.  If grandparents are more aware of postnatal depression and the emotional journey of new parenthood they are in a prime position to pick it up earlier and then know how to help and supportive and not to judge.

Many women will go to great lengths to hide their anxiety and feelings of distress because they feel they ought to be able to cope.  Our wish it to wipe away the stigma around postnatal depression.

PANDA is urging anyone who has concerns about postnatal depression to call the national helpline on 1300 726 306 Monday to Friday. We are also encouraging people to reach out, get help and see a GP.

Further State and Territory figures show (from 2007) also underlines the need for further awareness:

• In NSW over 15,200 women were diagnosed with postnatal depression and over 8,900 men were diagnosed with postnatal depression.
• In Queensland over 10,400 women were diagnosed with postnatal depression and over 6,100 men were diagnosed with postnatal depression.
• In Victoria over 11,900 women were diagnosed with postnatal depression and over 7,000 men were diagnosed with postnatal depression.
• In South Australia over 3,300 women were diagnosed with postnatal depression and over 1,900 men were diagnosed with postnatal depression.
• In Western Australia over 4,900 women were diagnosed with postnatal depression and over 2,900 men were diagnosed with postnatal depression.
• In Tasmania over 1,100 women were diagnosed with postnatal depression and over 600 men were diagnosed with postnatal depression.
• In the Northern Territory over 600 women were diagnosed with postnatal depression and over 380 men were diagnosed with postnatal depression.
• In the ACT over 800 women were diagnosed with postnatal depression and over 470 men were diagnosed with postnatal depression.

In Postnatal Depression Awareness Week in 2009 PANDA accessed the following media outlets to promote this campaign.

• FOUR national television interviews… on 9am, Channel Ten News, Channel Seven News and Sky News.
• Over FORTY-FIVE separate radio interviews.
• Over ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY separate newspapers have been personally spoken to about the campaign.
• We have arranged the support of news journalists Kellie Connolly and Tracey Spicer for PANDA.

You can help PANDA with this awareness campaign by showing this information to anyone you believe will benefit from it. 
Join us to make the community aware – “PND, it’s OK to TALK about it”.