Looking after yourself is looking after your family Today (Sunday 12 November), marks the start of Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week. “We know that around 100,000 families each year will experience some form of perinatal depression and anxiety as part of the period extending from the beginning of pregnancy up to the baby’s first birthday. It is incredibly important that new and expecting parents know what the signs of perinatal depression and anxiety are and what help is available. “WayAhead believes that parents who look after themselves to ensure they can look after their families is an important key to maintaining the total wellbeing of the family unit,” said WayAhead CEO Elizabeth Priestley. WayAhead strongly encourages anyone who thinks they may have symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety visit the PANDA website, www.panda.org.au, for more information about the condition or to call the PANDA National Helpline 1300 726 306 (Monday to Friday, 9am-7:30pm). While it is natural to feel a bit of anxiety and have ups and downs whilst pregnant and shortly after the baby is born, symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety may include:
- Panic attacks (a racing heart, palpitations, shortness of breath, shaking or feeling physically ‘detached’ from your surroundings)
- Persistent, generalised worry, often focused on fears for the health or wellbeing of the baby
- The development of obsessive or compulsive behaviours
- Abrupt mood swings
- Feeling constantly sad, low, or crying for no obvious reason
- Being nervous, ‘on edge’, or panicky [1]
Perinatal depression and anxiety affects up to one in five expecting mums and one in ten dads [2]. To help communities raise awareness, WayAhead has provided small grants of $500 or $1000 to community organisations throughout NSW to financially support their awareness events. WayAhead is working with all grant recipients to help promote their events to the NSW community and will also post photos and recaps of the events on the Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week website – www.pnda.wayahead.org.au.
- 1 PANDA Anxiety and Depression in Pregnancy and Early Parenthood factsheet – https://www.panda.org.au/images/resources/Resources-Factsheets/Anxiety-And-Depression-In-Early-Parenthood-And-Pregnancy.pdf
- 2 PANDA website – www.panda.org.au/awareness/pnda-awareness-week
