PANDAS - PND AWARENESS AND SUPPORT

PANDAS is a community offering peer-to-peer support for you, your family and your network.

Postnatal depression (PND) is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby. It can affect any parent, regardless of whether they’ve suffered from a mental health condition before.  Postnatal depression is linked directly to giving birth and is a common problem, affecting 1 in 10 women within a year of giving birth. It can also affect dads and partners.

How we can support you

If you'd like to speak to someone - We have a team of trained and dedicated volunteers, many of whom are studying and/or working within healthcare, midwifery or health services. Please call our free helpline for support and advice with empathy. Our lines are open Monday – Friday 10am until 5pm (excluding bank holidays) and we also have a free bookable call service.

If you'd like to email us - get in touch if you'd like more information regarding perinatal mental health illness, or if you’re at work or home and don’t have the privacy to speak to us, please contact our email support service. Our trained volunteers will aim to respond to your email within 72 hours.

Social media and Facebook groups - Our social media channels provide online support for parents and networks of parents who want to know more about perinatal mental health or be inspired by our motivational content. We cannot give you medical or legal advice but we do offer relatable and safe communities where you can connect with others and share your experiences. Please note, these pages are monitored for safeguarding purposes and that by using our services, you acknowledge and are in agreement that confidentially may be broken at any time for safeguarding reasons at our own discretion.

Text Support - Text the word ‘PANDAS’ to 85258 for in-the-moment support your mental health.  Individuals feeling anxious, stressed, lonely, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed and who need immediate support can use the service by texting the word ‘PANDAS’ to 85258, any time of the day or night.  The service, a partnership between The PANDAS Foundation, powered by charity Mental Health Innovations and thanks to the support of corporate partner Huggies, offers free, accessible, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support for any parent or carer who is struggling to cope.

Support Groups - Sometimes you simply need to surround yourself with people who understand what you’re going through. We know how daunting baby groups and play dates can be, especially if you’re suffering with perinatal mental illness. 

Led by a trained group manager with lived experience, our support groups offer a calm community for parents who are struggling. They provide a safe space for you and your baby, where you can meet other parents, and chat, listen and share your experiences.

*Please note that by using our services, you acknowledge and are in agreement that confidentially may be broken at any time for safeguarding reasons at our own discretion

Online Support Groups - At PANDAS, we understand it can sometimes be frightening and overwhelming to find out you might be suffering from a pre or postnatal mental illness, or indeed simply to be struggling and not knowing where to turn. If you’re in this situation, you might benefit from speaking to someone who has had a similar experience, which is why we offer online peer support. You can chat to others in the group, as well as our trained PANDAS volunteers, who will provide you with confidential support and advice from the comfort of your own home. 

WhatsApp Support - At PANDAS, we understand it can sometimes be frightening and overwhelming to find out you might be suffering from a pre or postnatal mental illness, or indeed simply to be struggling and not knowing where to turn. If you’re in this situation, you might benefit from speaking to someone who has had a similar experience, which is why we offer online peer support. You can chat to others in the group, as well as our trained PANDAS volunteers, who will provide you with confidential support and advice from the comfort of your own home. 

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.

If you need urgent help or are worried about a loved one, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or the emergency services on 999