National Helpline Programs

PANDA’s National Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Helpline is the only national dedicated perinatal mental health service. It has a unique purpose: to support the emotional and mental health needs of expecting and new parents and to minimise the risks of potentially devastating outcomes from unrecognised and untreated perinatal mental illness.

Callers to PANDA’s Helpline are supported by someone who really understands how they are feeling and knows how to help them take the first step to recovery. Our team is made up of both professional counsellors and trained peer support workers who have a personal experience of perinatal anxiety and depression. Every day they hear about the experiences of families across Australia as they deal with perinatal anxiety and depression. This means they fully understand the complex difficulties callers to the Helpline are going through.

PANDA staff and volunteers are respectful and compassionate towards ALL our callers, whatever their background, nationality or sexuality. PANDA’s Helpline service is a safe and secure place to disclose personal details, including whether you are LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex or Queer).

Outgoing calls

Expecting and new parents are going through a challenging transition. But perinatal and child health services are not set up to adequately respond to issues that arise between routine appointments.

For this reason, PANDA also offers an outgoing follow-up service. Outgoing Helpline calls aim to assess what issues might be occurring in the lives of expecting and new parents, and to identify any risks to their emotional or mental wellbeing. Outgoing calls also aim to provide advice and support in accessing appropriate services if risks or issues are identified.

Many of our callers speak of difficulties in expressing their needs or in not having their needs and concerns taken seriously by health professionals. The Helpline provides a key role in helping to overcome these obstacles. Each caller is actively encouraged to talk to their GP and family/child health nurse.

Families can contact PANDA directly or you can refer your client/patient to the Helpline by completing a Referral Form. Interpreter service provided on request. To refer your client/patient into one of our extensive telephone based programs please complete the Health Professional Referral Form >