Mental Health
What is a Perinatal mental illness Depression Anxiety Risk Factors What PANDAS does
Perinatal Mental Illnesses occur during pregnancy, or after the birth of a child. PANDAS supports those suffering with a wide range of Perinatal Mental illnesses, which include: Depression, Anxiety, Psychosis, Intrusive Thoughts, Compulsive Disorders, PTSD and Birth Trauma, Self Harm and Eating Disorders
Depression Physical Emotional Social Lack of Energy Tension Changes in Appetite Lack of concentration Sleep Disturbances Low Mood Tearfulness Guilt Feeling worthless, useless Lack of self care Irritability or Anger Isolation and Loneliness Conflict with parents: Conflict with, or Distancing from, Partner Fear seeking help
Anxiety Feelings Anxious, Nervous, Worried Feeling that something bad will happen Tense, Stressed, On Edge, Unsettled Unreal, strange, woozy, detached Actions Starting jobs and not finishing them Can t sit still and relax Speaking quickly or more than usual Snappy or irritable behaviour Changing in habits Thoughts Constant Worrying Can t Concentrate Racing thoughts Imagining the worse Physical Reactions Rapid Pulse, tight chest Sweating or flushing Feeling lightheaded Muscle tension
Risk Factors Previous history of depression Family History High Expectations Domestic violence or abuse Social and economic problems Relationship issues, Health Issues (including HG, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia) Traumatic or premature births Miscarriage, stillbirths, terminations and bereavement.
Consequences Risk of lower birth weight and prematurity Mental Illness still one of the highest causes of maternal death Risk of stopping medication Risk of mental health problems in partner/family Unhealthy coping mechanisms Relationship breakdown
Statistics As many as 1 in 7 Mothers suffer with Postnatal Depression 1 in 15 Mothers will experience mental health problems during pregnancy Of those PANDAS surveyed, 57% had considered taking their own lives 46% of women surveyed by Boots Family Trust said they were not completely honest about their feelings to HCPs. 30% of parents who took part in PANDAS Big Survey 2016 said they had to go back several times to a HCP, before diagnosis and help was given.
PANDAS Foundation is the UK s leading pre and postnatal mental health charity, providing pre and post natal depression advice, and peer support. Supporting women, men, and their families affected by pre and postnatal mental health illnesses. PANDAS peer support offers men, women and their extended families an opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, emotional, social and practical help in order to help and support.
Helpline: 9am 8pm daily Closed Facebook group: 2,300+ members Email Support: over 130+ emails monthly PANDAS Dads: Facebook community, supporting 50 + dads Support Groups: Provide trained Peer Support Group Leaders for groups across the UK
The group has helped me by allowing me to talk about my feelings without being judged, in a relaxed informal environment. Mums sharing their experiences of PND has helped me understand that the feelings I have are very common, normal and that I'm not a bad mother. PANDAS was (and still is) there for me when nothing else and no one else seemed willing to help. I know I can contact them whenever I need help from a little wobble to a big meltdown! I have recommended them to so many people I know. I don't know what would happen if they didn't exist.
When I was at my lowest I couldn't talk to anyone about how I felt. Just reading made me feel I wasn't alone. When I felt I wasn't good enough to live, talking to others on PANDAS kept me going another day. Without having somewhere to turn I don't think I would still be here. Friends and family do not understand. PANDAS provided a lifeline for me, a kind listening ear when I had no one to take my issues to. They were crucial to me at a time when I was caring for a baby and in need of care for me. A fantastic, supportive, non judgmental group of ladies with different issues, but united by a common understanding of how hard feeling low or having depression can be when you have a child or family to look after.