What is Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week?
PNDA stands for Perinatal Depression and Anxiety – but this year we’re expanding our definition to include a more diverse experience of mental health
Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week is an important opportunity to raise awareness about perinatal mental health issues in your local community. Up to 1 in 5 new and expectant parents experience some form of perinatal mental health issues, but lack of awareness means that many don’t get the support they need.
PNDA Awareness week is a time to increase community knowledge about mental health during the perinatal period and eliminate the stigma so that those affected can seek appropriate help and support.
WayAhead, previously known as the Mental Health Association NSW, is encouraging community organisations and individuals across NSW to get involved in PNDA Awareness Week.
When is it?
Perinatal Mental Health (PNDA) Week is held in the second week of November and is a great opportunity to raise awareness about perinatal mental health issues in your local community.
Together we can raise awareness about depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues experienced during the perinatal period. Raising awareness helps those affected and those who care about them to seek help.
The campaign
Our theme is Your baby is one in a million, are you 1 in 5? This theme was chosen as it highlights that perinatal mental health issues are more common than we think – around 1 in 5 new and expectant birth parents, and up to 1 in 10 non-birth parents experience problematic symptoms of perinatal anxiety and/or depression.
If you could be experiencing this, it’s important to know that you’re not alone – chances are another parent you know has been through it – and there is support. In fact, with the right support, people who experience PNDA are responsive, sensitive caregivers who can give their baby everything they need.
Support PNDA Awareness Week 2021
WayAhead’s exceptionally popular information pamphlet is being reprinted this year. To order your resources, please complete this form
Early support is key to successfully overcoming PNDA, but many new and expectant caregivers don't know what to look out for. PNDA Awareness Week is an opportunity to bring greater awareness to this important issue. You can boost the campaign by sharing information on social media, downloading resources, and including the campaign image in your email signature.
.
Events
We encourage members of the community to put on events to raise awareness for perinatal depression and anxiety.
.
Sources
Information regarding statistical prevalence of PNDA:
Loughnan, S. A., Newby, J. M., Haskelberg, H., Mahoney, A., Kladnitski, N., Smith, J., ... & Andrews, G. (2018). Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) for perinatal anxiety and depression versus treatment as usual: study protocol for two randomised controlled trials. Trials, 19(1), 56.
The ”Test” is based on the 3-Question Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale:
Boyce, P., Stubbs, J., & Todd, A. (1993). The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale: validation for an Australian sample. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 27(3), 472-476.
Kabir, K., Sheeder, J., & Kelly, L. S. (2008). Identifying postpartum depression: are 3 questions as good as 10?. Pediatrics, 122(3), e696-e702.
Matthey, S., Barnett, B., Kavanagh, D. J., & Howie, P. (2001). Validation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for men, and comparison of item endorsement with their partners. Journal of affective disorders, 64(2-3), 175-184.
.