Who Are PANDAS?
Post Natal Depression Awareness & Support
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PANDAS Foundation supports all parents, and their networks through mental illness from conception to birth and beyond.
What is PND?
You will most probably have heard of postnatal depression (PND) but there are also other conditions associated with maternal mental health. Perinatal mental health (PMH) concerns a woman’s emotional and psychological wellbeing during pregnancy and up to around three years after giving birth. PMH conditions include pre and postnatal depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and birth trauma.
It’s important to seek help as soon as you can, if you think you or someone you know might be affected by any of these conditions.
Perinatal depression
Depression during pregnancy is known as prenatal or antenatal depression. Symptoms include feeling low, anxiety, not experiencing joy, and loss of self-confidence. It can be caused by nausea or because of a miscarriage or stillbirth in a previous pregnancy.
Postnatal depression
Postnatal depression affects many women after they have a baby. It can start any time within a year of giving birth, and can also affect dads and partners. But with the right support, guidance and signposting, recovery is possible.
Perinatal mental health
Perinatal mental health covers all mental health problems associated with pregnancy, birth and beyond. These include pre and postnatal depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and postpartum psychosis.
Anxiety
Anxiety can occur any time during pregnancy, through birth and after, and it feels different for everyone. Someone with anxiety may feel tense or nervous, avoid certain situations, experience panic attacks and suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Birth trauma
Birth trauma might be due to one single event, or a mixture of experiences in pregnancy, during birth or afterwards. It can also be associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, known as PTSD, and symptoms can include flashbacks.
Resources
At PANDAS, we want to do all we can to make a difference to the lives of people experiencing maternal mental health problems. Here are some useful links to other support services that offer help and advice on perinatal mental health.
How PANDAS supports anyone affected by perinatal mental illness?
We have a variety of different support services available, all run by a trained team of PANDAS volunteers who are here to help you.
If you’d like to speak to someone
Our FREE helpline is open every day between 11am and 10pm. It’s manned by a team of trained volunteers who will be happy to chat to you and direct you to the right support for you.
If you’d like text support
You can access free & anonymous text support. Text the word ‘PANDAS’ to 85258. This will not appear on phone bills and you don’t need to register, download an app or use mobile data.
If you’d like to email us
Get in touch if you’d like more information regarding perinatal mental illness, or are looking for support for yourself or your partner, friend or colleague. Our support team are available every day, 365 days a year.
If you’d like to find a
support group
Face-to-face support can be a breath of fresh air if you’re a parent struggling with mental illness. Our groups are led by a group leader and are specifically tailored around your mental health.
Social media and Facebook groups
Our social media team are online 7 days a week, keeping you inspired, motivated and informed with news and reports on perinatal mental health.
Information
We can help you with self-care and how to approach your GP. We can also point you towards other organisations in our network who will be able to help you and provide other useful resources.
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