PNDSA Organisation Profile and History:

The Post Natal Depression Support Association (PNDSA) Inc. provides support, understanding and information to women, partners and families affected by pregnancy and childbirth related stress and depression.

The PNDSA was formed and incorporated in July 1997 by a group of volunteer women (all recovered from PND) who felt committed to helping others survive Post Natal Depression. First and foremost, the strength of our association is our volunteers. We have the most amazing array of mums who have recovered from their own struggle with PND to give so much of themselves in physical, mental and emotional effort.

Structure and Volunteers:

Since inception, the PNDSA has been run by Management Committees consisting of the usual positions of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer and the remaining people being ordinary committee members. Our committee members usually consist of recovered PND mums and health professionals – all on a voluntary capacity.

We do not have any paid staff, although one of our goals is to have a paid part time coordinator to work in our office to provide a central focal point for our services.

Funding and Donations

We have applied ongoing and one off funding over the years with no significant success. Our funding is from our membership subscriptions and via donations from our members.

Donations over $2 are tax deductible as the PNDSA has Deductible Gift Status. We welcome any donation small or large. We will provide a Tax Invoice / Receipt for your taxation records.

Membership forms are available on request. Annual Membership is $5 for PND mums and $15 for Health Professionals. Email the PNDSA on pndsa@hotmail.com with your details and we will send you a form.

We facilitate PND support groups in a number of locations in the Perth Metropolitan area. Please contact the office on 9340 1622 with your enquiry. The groups are facilitated by recovered PND mums and are attended by other mums in a similar situation. The groups typically involve talking about your week, talking through issues and problem solving, learning from what others have done to help themselves, promoting a positive outlook, encouraging exercise or self nurturing activities etc.

Crèches are available at all our groups and we strongly urge all babies and children are cared for in the creche so that the mum can get a well deserved rest for 2 hours.

The group will be non-judgmental and participation is voluntary.

We provide a phone support service to mums and families affected by PND, we can also refer people to appropriate health services and provide and mail out PND information. The calls are accepted onto an answering machine and are cleared within 24/48 hours. Please be patient with us as we are volunteers and we try our best within our resources.

Note: We are NOT a crisis service - call Mental Health Direct on 1800 220 400 or Samaritans or Lifeline.

Newsletter

We publish a quarterly newsletter called Flower Power which is distributed to all financial members. Subscription to the newsletter costs $5 for PND mums and $15 for Health Professionals.

We can provide women who have had Post Natal Depression speak on their experiences. Please call us on 9340 1622 to arrange details. We do request a donation for this service.

Training Course

We conduct a Training Course annually to train recovered PND mums to be support group facilitators and phone support staff. Enquiries for this free course can be made to 9340 1622. In return we ask all participants to provide 2 years (of very part time) volunteering.

PNDSA@hotmail.com