Breaking Down Barriers
This year between the 7th – 13th November, we celebrate Perinatal Mental Health week.
Since 2005 PANDA has been leading the perinatal mental health sector in promoting the week to help our community better understand perinatal mental illness, including signs to look for and where to go to seek support. We’re excited to see more organisations getting involved and helping to progress this important conversation about perinatal mental health.
Our theme for this year is “breaking down barriers”.
In the last 12 months, PANDA has seen:
- 51% increase in callers to PANDA's Helpline.
- 57% of callers are citing stressful life events as their reason for reaching out for help.
- More pregnant callers reaching out for help - 75% are either pregnant with their second or third child.
- Significant increase in the number of callers with babies under 1 month of age (12% in 2019-20 to 26% in 2020-21).
Many may think the statistics are alarming, PANDA sees the increase in demand as positive progress, as it means more families in Australia are no longer trying to manage alone. These families are breaking down barriers created by the stigma that surrounds perinatal mental illness to get the support they need.
We are incredibly proud of all the people who have reached out to us.
There are still many barriers we need to work together to break down.
How can you help?
- Share graphics and information from PANDA's digital toolkit.
- Share your own story on social media using hashtag #pmhweek2021 #perinatalmentalhealth #panda.
- Check out the national Perinatal Mental Health Week campaign.
- Host an event to raise awareness of PANDA and perinatal mental health and wellbeing.
