PANDA Shares Crucial Data Amidst Perinatal Mental Health Week

Right on the heels of Perinatal Mental Health Week (November 12-18), leading national mental health organisation Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) releases alarming data. It unveils an uncomfortable truth: Australian parents are struggling with significantly greater levels of distress during pregnancy and post-childbirth.

Detailed PANDA Helpline Data

In the period marking 12 months to June 2023, calls made to PANDA’s National Helpline saw a notable increase in duration. Over one in four callers found themselves needing to converse with a support member for beyond 60 minutes, considerably up from the previous year where only one in five calls extended over 60 minutes.

Furthermore, PANDA engaged in more than 55,326 interactions with helpline callers over the same timeframe, up nearly 850 interactions on a year-on-year basis compared to 2021-2022.

PANDA CEO’s Viewpoint

Emphasizing the pressing issue, Ms. Borninkhof said, “Parents are experiencing a range of challenges around cost of living, economic factors, and global events at a time when they are already vulnerable and are often quietly trying to navigate feelings of anxiety, depression or other perinatal mental health issues.”

Implications on Parent-Infant Attachment

She stressed that the first 12 months are crucial in forming attachment between parent and infant. However, with parents grappling with their mental health, this attachment could be negatively affected. Hence, the necessity to continue encouraging people to discuss these issues with loved ones or seek support from PANDA.

Ms. Borninkhof stated, “Perinatal Mental Health Week is a reminder of the critical importance of compassionate support during this vulnerable period.”

A Climbing Need for Support

Factors such as isolation and socio-economic adversities including job-related stress, financial hardship, and problems related to housing, continue to exacerbate the demand for support among parents. As a result, during their perinatal journey, there is a heightened number of parents experiencing psychological and physical issues such as abdominal pain and nausea, reduced mood, obsessive or negative thinking, and intrusive thoughts.

The Power of Conversation

Recognizing the power of conversation, and soundly following last year’s campaign on building one’s community of care, PANDA is turning its focus on “connection through conversation” this year. No matter how perfect the words, the real magic lies in reaching out, sincerely listening, and creating connection.

Whether you are a new parent struggling to cope with pregnancy or the changes thereafter, or someone wishing to seek assistance in building your community of care, do not hesitate to visit panda.org.au or call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 Mon to Sat, 9am – 7.30pm. AEST/AEDT.

For additional data and resources about Perinatal Mental Health Week, make sure to visit their official page.

Mums speak out about perinatal mental health struggles

Recap and Encouragement

As this roller coaster of a year barrels to a close, stress and challenges can easily multiply, particularly for new parents navigating the enigmatic journey of parenthood. But remember, you are not alone. PANDA’s compelling data underscores the shared struggles of so many parents out there and the incredible work that PANDA does in supporting these brave souls.

Through earnest and empathetic conversations, through fostering connections in your community of care, there’s a world of comfort and assistance within reach. It’s more than okay to ask for help, in fact, it’s the best thing you can do for yourself and your family!

A Toast to Resilience

On this note, here’s a salute to all the incredible, resilient parents out there. Yes, you! As they say, it takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes the astounding strength of a parent.

With the statistics serving as stark reminders, Perinatal Mental Health Week calls each one of us to roll up our sleeves and dive in to help those in need – not just this week, but all year round. Remember, you’ve got this and everyone at PANDA’s National Helpline and beyond is here to lend a hand!

For more insights and assistance, remember to visit panda.org.au or call the PANDA Helpline. And for those wanting additional resources about Perinatal Mental Health Week, head over to its official page.

In closing, let’s keep the dialogues flowing, keep the support radiating, and remember that no one has to go through this journey alone. Cheers to ensuring happy, healthy transitions into parenthood!

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