PND – It’s OK to TALK about it.

Postnatal Depression Awareness Week - November 15 – 21

 

PANDA’s awareness campaign during PND Awareness Week will highlight the facts that many parents who get postnatal depression are not getting 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 is also zeroing in on grandparents for this year’s campaign and urging all grandparents to be especially vigilant when their own children have become a mum or dad. Belinda Horton says that sometimes in the excitement of a new birth, the baby will get all the focus and mum and dad may not be getting much nurturing or support. PANDA highlights that grandparents can help by checking that the new parents are getting some support and balance 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 - not judge - and also to be supportive.


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 them on their national hotline 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.

 

Starting Sunday November 15 2009 PANDA will be using as many media outlets as possible to help promote this campaign.  Look out for PANDA in the following areas.

  • 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”.


If you missed the SBS Insight program - The Hidden Story Behind Having a Baby you can view it on the SBS website

PANDA to go National...

PANDA is very excited to announce the successful campaign to secure funding from the Federal Government to support the helpline nationally.

Due to commence in July 2010 plans are underway to expand the capacity of the helpline and hopefully the hours we are open.  Click here for more details from The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health.

PANDA’s Celebrity Supporters.

Check out the fantastic people who have put their support behind PANDA. 

Click here to view PANDA's new supporters.  We thank them for backing PANDA.
 

PANDA is now on FACEBOOK

You can be a fan by clicking on the logo below.

To catch up on PANDA's happenings you can find issues of some of our past newsletters on our Newsletters page. There is also a signup form if you would like to receive future issues.

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RESEARCH STUDIES.....


Pregnant and feeling depressed?


The Parent-Infant Research Institute is conducting a study to evaluate a new treatment program for women experiencing Antenatal Depression. This is an 8-session cognitive-behavioural therapy group program, facilitated by a psychologist. All participants will be linked with treating health professionals and provided a resource list of local support services. Half of the women participating will be offered the group program and half will be offered enhanced individual routine primary care. If you are pregnant and feel that you are struggling to cope or experiencing some depression, this program may be of benefit to you. For more information please visit our website www.piri.org.au or contact Charlene Schembri on 9496 4496.

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Men and Postnatal Depression - LaTrobe University

Are you the male partner of a woman who has or has had postnatal depression (PND)?

I am a counsellor in Fairfield with a special interest in PND. I am doing a Master's thesis at LaTrobe University on the experience of male partners of women who have or have had PND. If you are the male partner of a woman who has or has had PND, and wish to talk about your experience, I am keen to talk to you (confidentiality guaranteed). Please contact me, Lisa Fettling, on 0407 943 938, or or, fettling1@bigpond.com
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