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PANDAS Foundation: Perinatal Mental Health Charity

PANDAS Foundation (PANDAS stands for Pre and Post Natal Depression Advice and Support) is a UK charity dedicated to supporting anyone affected by perinatal mental illness — that includes antenatal and postnatal depression, anxiety, OCD, and other conditions that arise during pregnancy or the first year after birth.

What PANDAS Does

PANDAS focuses on peer-led, accessible support rather than clinical treatment, which makes it a good first step for people who are not ready to approach a GP or who are waiting for an NHS referral.

  • Helpline — 0808 196 4456, staffed by trained volunteers who have personal or professional experience of perinatal mental health.
  • Support groups — free, volunteer-led groups both in person and online, where you can meet others going through similar experiences.
  • Online community — a moderated Facebook community where members share experiences and encouragement.
  • Information resources — plain-English guides on conditions, treatments, and supporting a partner.
  • Signposting — help finding local NHS perinatal mental health teams and other services.

Who PANDAS Is For

PANDAS supports:

  • Pregnant people experiencing antenatal depression or anxiety.
  • New parents with postnatal depression, anxiety, or birth trauma.
  • Partners and co-parents, who are often overlooked in perinatal mental health.
  • Family members wanting to support someone they love.
  • People with pre-existing mental health conditions navigating pregnancy.

Importantly, PANDAS explicitly includes partners and non-birth parents. Perinatal mental health struggles affect the whole family, and partners can develop depression or anxiety during pregnancy and the postnatal period too.

How It Differs From Clinical Care

PANDAS does not diagnose or treat. Its value is in filling the gap between realising something is wrong and accessing clinical help — and in continuing alongside clinical care once it starts. Many people use PANDAS peer support while waiting for NHS talking therapy or a perinatal mental health team assessment.

Peer support is not a substitute for medical treatment in moderate to severe cases, but it reduces isolation and helps you feel less alone while you wait.

Accessing PANDAS

You do not need a referral. You can:

  • Call the helpline during opening hours listed on the PANDAS website.
  • Join the Facebook community at any time.
  • Search the website for a local support group.
  • Use the website's resources without joining anything.

All PANDAS services are free.

What to Expect on a First Call

The helpline is not a clinical assessment. It is a listening space staffed by someone who understands perinatal mental health. You can talk for as long or short as you like, share as much or as little as you want, and ask for signposting to local services. Volunteers will not tell you what to do; they will help you think through your next step.

If Things Are Urgent

PANDAS is not a crisis line. If you feel you cannot keep yourself safe, or you are worried someone else is at risk, contact 111, 999, or Samaritans on 116 123. For thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, tell someone you trust and contact your GP, midwife, or maternity unit immediately — perinatal mental health teams can respond quickly when needed.

Why Peer Support Matters

Perinatal mental illness thrives in silence. The shame of not loving pregnancy, or of struggling after birth, keeps many people quiet for months. A charity built on the idea that "you are not alone" cuts through that shame faster than most clinical approaches. PANDAS will not solve everything, but it is often the moment someone realises what they are experiencing has a name, a community, and a way through.