About PANDSI

Mission Statement

OUR MISSION
To empower people affected by maternal depression through advocacy, support and education.

OUR VISION
To be recognised as delivering an ideal complementary service delivery model based on the identification of key risk factors to postnatal and antenatal depression through education and the reduction of isolation that minimises the effect on society.

History of PANSDI

The ACT Post Natal Depression Support Group was set up as a 'self-help' group in the ACT in 1981. EXPAND Inc. was an existing group servicing the Northside of Canberra. Both groups amalgamated in 1989 to service the whole of the ACT. As a result of the amalgamation, the organisation was renamed in 2001 as Post & Ante Natal Depression Support and Information Inc - PANDSI.

In 1997 the organisation received government funding and widened its scope. It now has an executive director and two part-time administration staff. There is also a significant reliance on volunteers to assist in a range of activities from maintaining the library to running a playgroup.

PANDSI offers information concerning a range of disorders to women, partners and interested others including health professionals. It provides ongoing telephone support, drop-in services and facilitated group therapy (by trained counsellors) on a weekly basis on both the north and south sides of Canberra.

Services of PANDSI

PANDSI offers several services to women with PND and AND. These include support groups, playgroup, coffee and chat, telephone support and a library service. Click here to find out more.

Our Patron

A message from our patron

Postnatal depression is a serious public health issue with figures estimating that one in seven women who experience pregnancy, childbirth and new parenthood will experience some level of post or antenatal depression. These figures are alarming.

Access to appropriate counselling and health care is essential if we, as a community, are serious about addressing the needs of women and families who have been affected by this illness.

Public awareness and acceptance of postnatal depression has increased over the past decade largely by the hard work of many women and women's organisations such as PANDSI, in getting governments and the community to recognise the seriousness of postnatal depression.

PANDSI plays an important role in providing professional and peer support to people in the ACT region affected by post or antenatal depression.

I am honoured to be associated with an organisation such as PANDSI.


Katy Gallagher MLA
Patron of PANDSI

Contact PANDSI

Click here for PANDSI's contact details.

Membership

Click here to view and print the form to join PANDSI (20K )
The membership form is an Adobe Reader file. If you do not already have Adobe Reader version 4 or later on your computer, it can be downloaded free from the Adobe website by clicking on the icon below:

Up and Coming Events

Newsletter

Click here to download a previous newsletter (295K )
A newsletter is produced quarterly and is sent out to all members and other interested parties. If you would like to receive the newsletter each quarter, please join PANDSI by filling out the membership form and returning it with your membership fee to the administration office.

The newsletter is an Adobe Reader file. If you do not already have Adobe Reader version 4 or later on your computer, it can be downloaded free from the Adobe website by clicking on the icon below:

Resources within the ACT

Click here to view and print a "Fridge List" of important and useful phone numbers (10K )
The Fridge List is an Adobe Reader file. If you do not already have Adobe Reader version 4 or later on your computer, it can be downloaded free from the Adobe website by clicking on the icon below: