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  • Becoming a parent can change your perspective on the world and bring strong emotions to the surface.

    It can also prompt you to look within, to turn to the example that was set for you as a child.

    And if you have a complicated relationship with your own parents – or they’re not around – who do you turn to when you start wondering “Am I going about this the right way?”

    Chris Jephcott found himself facing the prospect of becoming a dad at the same time he was losing his own.

    His partner Suzi Garden fell pregnant early in their relationship, and although they were excited, they were also nervous – they knew this would be tough terrain to navigate.

    Becoming a dad forced Chris to reckon with the most traumatic moments of his past, but it also strengthened his resolve to build his parenting skills from the ground up and be a different father to his own son.

    This episode contains discussion of suicide.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast, produced by Deadset Studios

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    Acknowledgement

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

  • “My biggest fear was being isolated. I was having to give up my work. None of my friends had kids. I didn't think that our friendships would be the same after I had a kid.”

    Adelaide moved away from her friends and family to regional Victoria just before she fell pregnant with her first child.

    When her mental health took a turn, she found the services in her new hometown weren’t exactly able to handle her case. Then when she did find specialists, they didn’t stick around for long.

    While Adelaide quickly exhausted her options for local mental health support, luckily those fears about her friendships falling through were unfounded. Her support network her get through it all from afar, but there were plenty of challenges along the way.

    You’ll hear Adelaide’s story, and learn from Dr Rochelle Hine, a social worker and mental health professional, about how you can overcome some of the challenges of parenting outside the city.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast, produced by Deadset Studios

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Friday and 9am-4pm Saturdays AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    Acknowledgement

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

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  • Birthing on Country is about choice, and the power that comes from making your own choice.

    For some First Nations women it might be the choice to birth safely on the lands of their ancestors, instead of travelling thousands of kilometres away to a hospital where they don’t speak the language.

    For others it might be bringing a symbol of their homelands with them into the hospital, or having their placenta returned to country after the birth.

    As a leading advocate for Birthing on Country – a practice that stretches back countless generations of First Nations mums - Professor Yvette Roe knows that what happens in birth can echo through the lives of both parent and child.

    Embedding these choices in birthing settings across the country is Professor Roe’s mission as the Co-Director of the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, where their focus is to radically transform maternity services for First Nations families no matter where they are giving birth.

    So how can Birthing on Country keep First Nations mums’ physical and emotional wellbeing safe?

    Please Note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners should be aware, this episode contains references to people who have died.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast, produced by Deadset Studios

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    Acknowledgement:

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

  • This grounding exercise aims to release tension from your body, adapted from Paul Gilbert’s ‘Simple Body Scan and Relaxation’ based on compassion-focused therapy.

    If you’re feeling wound up, this is a short body-based exercise for stress relief.

    Return to this exercise whenever you need.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast, produced by Deadset Studios

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    Acknowledgement

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

  • This grounding exercise is designed to help you focus on your breathing, adapted from Paul Gilbert’s ‘Soothing Rhythm Breathing’ based on compassion-focused therapy.

    When you slow down your breath, you can slow down your racing mind. It can help you feel centered and counteract stress.

    Return to this exercise whenever you need.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast, produced by Deadset Studios

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    Acknowledgement

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

  • Alex Fisher stood in the doorway of the hospital room holding her daughter Luca, just moments old, as her wife Lauren was rushed into emergency surgery for a massive haemorrhage. Her mind turned to the worst-case scenario. Would Lauren make it?

    The first few years of parenthood had been tough for both of them, and Alex had tried to stay strong for Lauren, who had perinatal anxiety and depression after giving birth to their first daughter Ivy.

    After all that Lauren had been through, Alex didn’t feel like it was her place to speak up, and she didn’t really know how or who to talk to. But as Lauren physically recovered from the traumatic birth, Alex realised that she needed to seek help to help her in her role as a parent and a wife.

    When you're not the one carrying the baby, it can be easy to forget that you’re also going through all the ups and downs of new parenthood.

    And when you’re supporting your partner through a perinatal mental health crisis it’s easy to let your own mental health take a back seat.

    Alex and Lauren Fisher share how they navigated this time, how Alex helped Lauren and in turn got help herself.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast, produced by Deadset Studios

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    Acknowledgement:

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

  • Emma thought she would slip into parenthood as naturally as anyone. She’d been around young kids her whole life and could change a nappy by the time she was 12.

    But when the moment arrived, it was nothing like she expected. Mental health and fertility challenges had contributed new fears and ambivalence to Emma’s entry into motherhood – it wasn’t the love bubble joy she was expecting.

    It turns out that’s totally common, natural even, to feel unexpected emotions like disdain – and even regret – about becoming a parent.

    You’re not alone if the way you feel doesn’t match the way the world expects you to feel.

    Emma speaks openly about those mixed feelings when she became a mum, and Motherhood Studies Sociologist Dr Sophie Brock unpacks the layers of parenting that make it feel like a total chore when you just want “the old you” back.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast, produced by Deadset Studios

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    Acknowledgement:

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

  • There’s strength in numbers, and for solo parents that rings especially true.

    We all have those new parent moments where you feel totally isolated.

    And when you’re doing things on your own, without a partner or close family, that feeling can be intensified.

    When you find yourself as a single mum or dad, in lots of ways you’ve got to build your own path forward, and re-think how all the standard advice applies to you.

    There are many different ways to parent outside the traditional models that we’re taught to work within, including building your own community of care and support around yourself.

    You’re about to hear from Audrey and Julia, two mums who found so much joy in parenting solo and choosing the people who are in their community.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast, produced by Deadset Studios

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    Acknowledgement:

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

  • When PANDA began in Ann Lanigan’s Melbourne lounge room in the 1980s, there was nothing else like it in the country.

    Ann experienced postnatal depression after the birth of her third child, and only got the help she needed by pure luck. And that’s how she describes the perinatal mental health system at the time – a total lottery, with very few parents getting the treatment they needed.

    But during Ann’s recovery, she made it her mission to connect with other women who had experienced the same thing. From that moment a community grew and changed the lives of the people it touched for the better.

    This episode of Survive & Thrive is a little different. You’ll hear PANDA CEO Julie Borninkhof in conversation with two people critical in PANDA’s formation, Ann Lanigan and Professor Dorothy Scott OAM.

    Together they trace the organisation back to it’s roots and look at how far we’ve come – and the distance we still have to go – with treating perinatal mental health in Australia.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    Acknowledgement:

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

  • Melissa was born in Malaysia but has lived in Melbourne since she was a kid. When she became a mum herself, confinement seemed like a natural thing for her to do.

    What confinement – or “sitting the month” looks like changes slightly from culture to culture, but broadly it involves rallying around a mum who’s just given birth, to make sure that not only the baby is safe and cared for, but the mum has everything she needs to recover as well.

    While most parents are trying to learn the lessons of new parenthood while in a state of mental and physical shock, for those practicing confinement the focus is on you as a new mum.

    You’re about to hear Melissa’s story of the joys and challenges, and how the practice of confinement in Australia has evolved over time from Chinese traditional medicine practitioner Eric Cheng, who helps women transition into motherhood.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast, produced by Deadset Studios

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    Acknowledgement:

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

  • The sleepless nights and hormonal dysregulation of early parenthood can be a minefield if you’re living with an existing mental health condition.

    Like Renee Knight, who’d experienced depression in her teens, but didn’t anticipate the impact becoming a mother would have on her mental health.

    Because there are so many questions. Which medications are safe? How will I navigate new triggers? How can I prioritise my own wellbeing along with my newborn’s? What if I relapse?

    You don’t have to do it alone. It’s not fool proof – but it is possible to plan ahead to ensure your mental wellbeing is a priority during the perinatal period.

    Perinatal psychologist Dr Rebecca Hill discusses what a management plan might look like for different conditions from anxiety to bipolar disorder and explains what we know about why this period can be so fraught.

    This episode contains discussion of suicide.

    +++

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast, produced by Deadset Studios

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    Acknowledgement:

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

  • It took Donna a long time to decipher exactly what her intrusive thoughts meant.

    She had them before her son was born, but when he arrived the thoughts became much louder.

    But because they almost felt normal to her, she didn't know that they were a sign of something bigger.

    Sometimes they might feel silly, sometimes they can feel serious and very worrying. They can be a symptom of anxiety. But for a small group of new parents, they could be a sign of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

    That’s a big spectrum. So how do you know where your thoughts land, or how and when to get help?

    Mental health clinician Danielle Paltos helps new parents answer those questions all the time. You’ll hear from Danielle and Donna in this episode of Survive & Thrive, and our host Gia talks about her own experience with intrusive thoughts.

    +++

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast, produced by Deadset Studios

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    Acknowledgement:

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

  • So many of us go through perinatal anxiety and depression as expecting and new parents.

    But even though it’s something so many of us go through, it can be difficult to reach out when you’re struggling.

    And that’s where Survive & Thrive comes in.

    When you feel like you're doing it all on your own, or you don't know how to tell the people in your life how tough things really are, Survive & Thrive is here for you.

    There's no judgement here. Just hope, and stories from people who have been right where you are now.

    You’ll hear their vulnerability and resilience, and this season you’ll also hear from professionals who have practical strategies to help you manage your mental health as you transition into parenthood.

    From building a care plan when you have a pre-existing mental health condition, to recognising intrusive thoughts, building a community of care around yourself as a solo parent, processing feelings of ambivalence or becoming a parent when you don’t have great role models in your own life, you’ll hear it all.

    Hosted by Gia Hogarth, Season 2 of Survive & Thrive will be in your feed soon.

    Hit follow in your favourite podcast app so you don't miss a thing.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast, produced by Deadset Studios

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    FAMILY VIOLENCE SUPPORT:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    SPEAK TO PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    IF YOU NEED HELP NOW:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

    PANDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live and where this podcast is made. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

    We recognise the individual and collective contributions of people with a lived and/or living experience of mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to PANDA's work and mental health systems reform.

    It is through listening to and acting on the voices of people with lived experience, that those who provide services, those who fund services, and most importantly, those who use services that we will find the information we need to move towards the mental health system Australia needs.

    Every person’s story we hear, every experience shared, helps to develop our understanding of the system that is required to best meet the needs of Australians living with mental health issues, their families, loved ones and supporters.

    CREDITS

    Host: Gia Hogarth

    PANDA Digital Editor: Serena Ashmore

    PANDA Commissioning Editor: Bec Shafer

    Deadset Studios Senior Producer: Grace Pashley

    Deadset Studios Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain

    Sound Design by Krissy Miltiadou

  • The big changes that come with a new baby can affect everyone in your family differently.

    Of course, there can be lots of excitement in anticipation of lovely cuddles with your newest family member, but there are some complicated feelings that might come up too.

    Everyone’s family looks different, but there’s often an expectation that this will be a time of total joy and togetherness. In reality, you might miss the way your relationships were before your bub arrived. You might find yourself arguing about values and parenting decisions with loved ones, or you might be bored of only talking about parenting and baby things!

    It can be a stressful time. And it can feel hard to talk about issues in your relationships, when there is so much else going on.

    In this episode our guest Bree talks about her experiences with family therapy and the importance of putting yourself first.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast.

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Family violence support:

    It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available.

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    You might also be interested in:

    Try a Mental Health Checklist: https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/checklists. Sometimes it’s hard to know if what you’re experiencing (or noticing in a loved one) could be a reason to seek help. These short, anonymous checklists are available on the PANDA website.
  • In this month’s Survive and Thrive podcast, our host Alice chats to Deb about unexpected birth experiences, and looking after ourselves around those birth experiences while juggling a newborn.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast.

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources for support:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    You might also be interested in:

    Try a Mental Health Checklist: https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/checklists. Sometimes it’s hard to know if what you’re experiencing (or noticing in a loved one) could be a reason to seek help. These short, anonymous checklists are available on the PANDA website.
  • "Taking time for yourself is not just OK – it’s essential."

    People often come into parenting with high hopes and expectations of how they will be as parents and try really hard to be the best parent they can be. But what does this mean? How can you be a good parent, mind your mental health and not put too much pressure on yourself to meet unrealistic expectations? In this month’s podcast, Alice chats to our guest Jess, who shares some of her own experiences of the pressures of parenting and her strategies around managing these, and how she embraced the idea of being a ‘good enough’ parent.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast.

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources for support:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    You might also be interested in:

    Try a Mental Health Checklist: https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/checklists. Sometimes it’s hard to know if what you’re experiencing (or noticing in a loved one) could be a reason to seek help. These short, anonymous checklists are available on the PANDA website.
  • In this bonus episode, PANDA Helpline Counsellor Helen guides you through surfing the emotional wave after feeling strong emotions, and grounding yourself in the present moment.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast.

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources for support:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    You might also be interested in:

    Try a Mental Health Checklist: https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/checklists. Sometimes it’s hard to know if what you’re experiencing (or noticing in a loved one) could be a reason to seek help. These short, anonymous checklists are available on the PANDA website.
  • The journey to becoming a parent can be exciting and joyful, but there can also be other feelings like sadness, boredom, loneliness or frustration. For many expecting and new parents, this comes as a shock, as these so-called negative feelings aren’t talked about very much. But as this conversation with our guest Khai shows, these feelings are extremely common, and even though it can be hard, it’s OK to feel this way – and it certainly doesn’t make someone a bad parent.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast.

    Visit panda.org.au for more support.

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources for support:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    You might also be interested in:

    Try a Mental Health Checklist: https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/checklists. Sometimes it’s hard to know if what you’re experiencing (or noticing in a loved one) could be a reason to seek help. These short, anonymous checklists are available on the PANDA website.Check out this resource on managing your wellbeing during times of global crisis: https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/managing-emotional-wellbeing-in-expecting-and-new-parents-affected-by-natural-disasters-global-crises-or-concerns-for-the-future
  • Every parent experiences frustration or overwhelm, and it can often be tricky to manage those feelings in the moment. Strong emotions can bubble up as fast as your baby can wake after finally going to sleep.

    In this bonus episode, we explore making your own management plan for these moments. Guided by PANDA Helpline counsellor Helen.

    We’ll be releasing more bonus episodes with helpful exercises for managing your emotional wellbeing each month. We know that as new parents your attention is divided in many different directions, so our mini episodes are only five minutes long.

    Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are released.

  • Becoming a parent can be exciting but it can also bring a whole new level of worry into your life. All of a sudden you have a small human to look after! This first episode of ‘Survive and Thrive’ explores Catherine’s story of becoming a mum, and how she managed anxiety during her journey. Catherine talks openly and honestly with our host Alice about what prompted her feelings of anxiety, how she got through those difficult times, and how she grew to learn that while anxiety is often a common companion on a parent’s journey, it doesn’t need to stop you from thriving as a parent.

    Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast. Visit panda.org.au for more info and support.

    Speak to PANDA:

    Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST).

    The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent.

    Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

    Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents.

    More resources for support:

    Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7)

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight)

    Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7)

    QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight)

    Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7)

    1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7)

    If you need help now:

    If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.

    You might also be interested in:

    Try a Mental Health Checklist: Sometimes it’s hard to know if what you’re experiencing (or noticing in a loved one) could be a reason to seek help. These short, anonymous checklists are available on the PANDA website.Tips on parental wellbeing: https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/wellbeing-and-self-care.How is Dad Going? Info and resources specifically for expecting and new dads: https://www.howisdadgoing.org.au/.

    If you liked the show:

    Please rate, review and subscribe so that more people can here about Survive and Thrive. And let us know what you think on PANDA’s Facebook and Instagram.