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 - our free helpline is open every day between 11am and 10pm.  It is 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 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.

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.

Online Support Groups - Our online support group helps you access support and connect with other parents from your own home.  This is a drop in call for all parents who may need a little extra support in these hard times. You can jump on and leave at any time that suits you. Here you will be able to chat to others who maybe experiencing similar and hopefully feel less isolated.  The group happens on zoom every Thursday, between 20.00-22.00 for parents to talk, connect and get advice with our lovely trained volunteers and with other parents and carers too. For more info, and to register, please head to this link. 

Dads' Online Support Call - PANDAS now host online zoom support groups for Dads. If you are a Dad and feeling the strain of parenting, or simply want to connect with other Dads, then this is the group for you.  The calls will take place between 20.00-22.00 every Monday. The calls are drop in, so please feel free to join and leave the call when it suits you within that timeframe.  The group will be hosted by our amazing, fully trained Dad volunteers, and you will be able to chat to other dads who may be experiencing a similar journey as you. You will also be able to offer support to other Dads. We hope it will be a chance to reduce isolation and to get more support.  For further details on dates and to sign up head to this link. 

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