Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Characteristics of women calling the PANDA Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia National Helpline: a cross-sectional study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Archives of Women's Mental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The PANDA Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia National Helpline provides support for people affected by perinatal mental health issues. To describe the characteristics of women contacting the Helpline, specifically callers’ health, past history and assessed risk factors. Analysis of routinely collected de-identified data of women making initial calls between July 2010 and October 2013. Five thousand eight hundred eighteen women made an initial call to the Helpline. Most were between 25 and 40 years old (79%) and married/partnered (94%); 52% were having or had their first child; and 23% were pregnant. Over half had no prior mental health diagnosis at the time of their initial call, and 40% were assessed as ‘high needs’—experiencing significant bio-psychosocial symptoms, complex situations and/or inadequate care and support. There was a 70% increase in calls to PANDA over the data collection period. Concerns recorded by PANDA staff from the initial risk assessment included inadequate treatment for a mental health condition (31%), women not feeling connected to their baby (31%), low functioning (26%) and general thoughts of suicide (18%). The Helpline experienced a significant increase in demand during the study period, and a substantial proportion of callers had complex mental health needs. PANDA plays a major role in providing support to a large number of women experiencing perinatal mental health problems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Austin MP, Hadzi-Pavlovic D, Priest SR, Reilly N, Wilhelm K, Saint K, Parker G (2010) Depressive and anxiety disorders in the postpartum period: how prevalent are they and can we improve their detection? Arch Women Ment Health 13:395–401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-010-0153-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2017) Australia’s mothers and babies 2015—in brief. Perinatal statistics series no. 33. Cat no. PER 91. AIHW, Canberra

  • Battle CL, Salisbury AL, Schofield CA, Ortiz-Hernandez S (2013) Perinatal antidepressant use: understanding women's preferences and concerns. J Psychiatr Pract 19:443–453. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.pra.0000438183.74359.46

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Biaggi A, Conroy S, Pawlby S, Pariante CM (2016) Identifying the women at risk of antenatal anxiety and depression: a systematic review. J Affect Disord 191:62–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.11.014

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Biggs LJ, Shafiei T, Forster DA, Small R, McLachlan HL (2015) Exploring the views and experiences of callers to the PANDA Post and Antenatal Depression Association Australian National Perinatal Depression Helpline: a cross-sectional survey. 15:209. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0594-0

  • Biggs LJ, McLachlan HL, Shafiei T, Small R, Forster DA (2018) Peer supporters' experiences on an Australian perinatal mental health helpline. Epub ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dax097

  • Buultjens M, Liamputtong P (2007) When giving life starts to take the life out of you: women's experiences of depression after childbirth. Midwifery 23:77–91

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • CCOPMM (2014) 2012 and 2013 Victoria’s mothers, babies and children. Section 2: data, tables and figures. Victoria State Government

  • Dale J, Caramlau IO, Lindenmeyer A, Williams SM (2008) Peer support telephone calls for improving health. Cochrane Database Syst Rev:CD006903

  • Dennis CL, Chung-Lee L (2006) Postpartum depression help-seeking barriers and maternal treatment preferences: a qualitative systematic review. Birth 33:323–331

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dennis CL, Kingston D (2008) A systematic review of telephone support for women during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 37:301–314

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dennis CL, Falah-Hassani K, Brown HK, Vigod SN (2016) Identifying women at risk for postpartum anxiety: a prospective population-based study. Acta Psychiatr Scand 134:485–493. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.12648

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dennis CL, Falah-Hassani K, Shiri R (2017) Prevalence of antenatal and postnatal anxiety: systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry 210:315–323. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.116.187179

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eastwood JG, Jalaludin BB, Kemp LA, Phung HN, Barnett BE (2012) Relationship of postnatal depressive symptoms to infant temperament, maternal expectations, social support and other potential risk factors: findings from a large Australian cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 12:148. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-12-148

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Efrat MW, Esparza S, Mendelson SG, Lane CJ (2015) The effect of lactation educators implementing a telephone-based intervention among low-income Hispanics: a randomised trial. Health Educ J 74:424–441. https://doi.org/10.1177/0017896914542666

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fonseca A, Gorayeb R, Canavarro MC (2015) Women's help-seeking behaviours for depressive symptoms during the perinatal period: socio-demographic and clinical correlates and perceived barriers to seeking professional help. Midwifery 31:1177–1185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2015.09.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gavin NI, Gaynes BN, Lohr KN, Meltzer-Brody S, Gartlehner G, Swinson T (2005) Perinatal depression: a systematic review of prevalence and incidence. Obstet Gynecol 106:1071–1083

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman JH (2009) Women's attitudes, preferences, and perceived barriers to treatment for perinatal depression. Birth 36:60–69

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman JH, Tyer-Viola L (2010) Detection, treatment, and referral of perinatal depression and anxiety by obstetrical providers. J Women's Health 19:477–490. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2008.1352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henshaw EJ, Fried R, Teeters JB, Siskind EE (2014) Maternal expectations and postpartum emotional adjustment in first-time mothers: results of a questionnaire survey. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 35:69–75. https://doi.org/10.3109/0167482X.2014.937802

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herrick H (2002) Postpartum depression: who gets help? Results from the Colorado, New York, and North Carolina PRAMS Surveys 1977–1999. Statistical Brief no. 24. Department of Health and Human Services

  • Howard LM, Molyneaux E, Dennis CL, Rochat T, Stein A, Milgrom J (2014) Non-psychotic mental disorders in the perinatal period. Lancet 384:1775–1788. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61276-9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster CA, Gold KJ, Flynn HA, Yoo H, Marcus SM, Davis MM (2010) Risk factors for depressive symptoms during pregnancy: a systematic review. Am J Obstet Gynec 202:5–14

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lavender T, Richens Y, Milan SJ, Smyth RM, Dowswell T (2013) Telephone support for women during pregnancy and the first six weeks postpartum. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 7:CD009338. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009338.pub2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ngai FW, Wong PWC, Leung KY, Chau PH, Chung KF (2015) The effect of telephone-based cognitive-behavioral therapy on postnatal depression: a randomized controlled trial. Psychother Psychosom 84:294–303. https://doi.org/10.1159/000430449

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O'Hara MW, McCabe JE (2013) Postpartum depression: current status and future directions. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 9:379–407

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O'Hara MW, Wisner KL (2014) Perinatal mental illness: definition, description and aetiology. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 28:3–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2013.09.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • PANDA Strategic Plan 2012–2015 (2012) Post and Antenatal Depression Association

  • Patton GC, Romaniuk H, Spry E, Coffey C, Olsson C, Doyle LW, Oats J, Hearps S, Carlin JB, Brown S (2015) Prediction of perinatal depression from adolescence and before conception (VIHCS): 20-year prospective cohort study. Lancet 386:875–883. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)62248-0

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Powell AE, Davies HTO, Thomson RG (2003) Using routine comparative data to assess the quality of health care: understanding and avoiding common pitfalls. Qual Saf Health Care 12:122–128. https://doi.org/10.1136/qhc.12.2.122

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ross LE, McLean LM (2006) Anxiety disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period: a systematic review. J Clin Psychiatry 67:1285–1298

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shafiei T, Forster D, McLachlan H, Small R, Biggs L (2014) Evaluation of the PANDA National Perinatal Depression Helpline. Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne

  • StataCorp (2015) STATA statistical software: release 14. StataCorp LP, Texas USA, College Station

    Google Scholar 

  • Sword W, Busser D, Ganann R, McMillan T, Swinton M (2008) Women's care-seeking experiences after referral for postpartum depression. Qual Health Res 18:1161–1173

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tobin C (2015) A metasynthesis exploring refugee and immigrant Women's experiences and perceptions of postpartum depression. Nurs Res 64:E61–E61

    Google Scholar 

  • Woolhouse H, Brown S, Krastev A, Perlen S, Gunn J (2009) Seeking help for anxiety and depression after childbirth: results of the Maternal Health Study. Arch Women Ment Health 12:75–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wynter K, Rowe H, Fisher J (2013) Common mental disorders in women and men in the first six months after the birth of their first infant: a community study in Victoria, Australia. J Affect Disord 151:980–985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.08.021

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yelland J, Brown SJ (2014) Asking women about mental health and social adversity in pregnancy: results of an Australian population-based survey. Birth-Iss Perinat C 41:79–87. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12083

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yelland J, Sutherland G, Brown SJ (2010) Postpartum anxiety, depression and social health: findings from a population-based survey of Australian women. BMC Public Health 10:771. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-771

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Level 3, George Singer Building, Cnr Plenty Rd & Kingsbury Dr, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia

    Touran Shafiei, Laura J. Biggs, Rhonda Small, Helen L. McLachlan & Della A. Forster

  2. School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, 8-14 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia

    Laura J. Biggs

  3. School of Nursing & Midwifery, La Trobe University, Level 3, George Singer Building, Cnr Plenty Rd & Kingsbury Dr, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia

    Helen L. McLachlan

  4. The Royal Women’s Hospital, Locked Bag 300 Grattan St & Flemington Rd, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia

    Della A. Forster

Authors
  1. Touran Shafiei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laura J. Biggs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rhonda Small
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Helen L. McLachlan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Della A. Forster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Touran Shafiei.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethics approval was obtained from the Faculty of Health Sciences Human Ethics Committee, La Trobe University (reference FHEC 11/32).

For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shafiei, T., Biggs, L.J., Small, R. et al. Characteristics of women calling the PANDA Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia National Helpline: a cross-sectional study. Arch Womens Ment Health 21, 801–812 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-018-0868-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-018-0868-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation