Background
Telephone peer support and counselling
PANDA Post and Antenatal Depression Association
Methods
Aims
-
callers’ experiences of communication with PANDA, including why they called the Helpline, and what they felt they had gained from their contact with the service;
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how, if at all, the Helpline differed from other support services callers had accessed; and
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if there were things that could be improved within the PANDA service.
Survey instrument
Data collection
Analysis
Results
Characteristics of respondents
Called regarding self | Called regarding partnerb | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | % | n | n | % | |
Sex | (n = 99) | (n = 5) | (n = 104) | ||
ᅟFemale | 96 | 97.0 | 3 | 99 | 95.2 |
ᅟMale | 3 | 3.0 | 2 | 5 | 4.8 |
Caller age in years | (n = 98) | (n = 5) | (n = 103) | ||
ᅟ<25 | 5 | 5.1 | 0 | 5 | 4.9 |
ᅟ25-30 | 21 | 21.4 | 2 | 23 | 22.3 |
ᅟ30-40 | 69 | 70.4 | 3 | 72 | 69.9 |
ᅟ>40 | 3 | 3.1 | 0 | 3 | 2.9 |
Marital status | (n = 99) | (n = 5) | (n = 104) | ||
ᅟMarried | 78 | 78.8 | 3 | 81 | 77.9 |
ᅟLiving with a partner | 17 | 17.2 | 2 | 19 | 18.3 |
ᅟSeparated or divorced | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 | 2.0 |
ᅟHave a partner but do not live together | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 |
ᅟSingle | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 |
ᅟOther | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Number of children | (n = 98) | (n = 5) | (n = 103) | ||
ᅟNone | 9 | 9.2 | 0 | 9 | 8.7 |
ᅟOne child | 48 | 49.0 | 4 | 52 | 50.5 |
ᅟTwo children | 37 | 37.7 | 1 | 38 | 36.9 |
ᅟThree children | 4 | 4.1 | 0 | 4 | 3.9 |
Age of most recent childa | (n = 93) | (n = 5) | (n = 98) | ||
ᅟ≤12 weeks | 10 | 10.7 | 0 | 10 | 10.2 |
ᅟ13-26 weeks | 29 | 31.2 | 3 | 32 | 32.6 |
ᅟ27-51 weeks | 33 | 35.5 | 2 | 35 | 35.7 |
ᅟ≥52 weeks | 21 | 22.6 | 0 | 21 | 21.4 |
Pregnant at time of survey | (n = 99) | ||||
16 | 16.2 | ||||
Education | (n = 99) | (n = 5) | (n = 104) | ||
ᅟCompleted a degree or higher | 60 | 60.6 | 3 | 63 | 60.6 |
ᅟCompleted a certificate/diploma/ apprenticeship | 31 | 31.3 | 1 | 32 | 30.8 |
ᅟCompleted secondary school Year 12 | 5 | 5.0 | 1 | 6 | 5.8 |
ᅟHave not completed secondary school | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | 2.9 |
Total before tax household income/week (AUD) | (n = 98) | (n = 5) | (n = 103) | ||
ᅟLess than $650 | 6 | 6.1 | 0 | 6 | 5.8 |
ᅟ$650 - $999 | 13 | 13.3 | 0 | 13 | 12.6 |
ᅟ$1000 - $1399 | 17 | 17.3 | 1 | 18 | 17.5 |
ᅟ$1400 - 1999 | 27 | 27.5 | 2 | 29 | 28.1 |
ᅟ> $2000 | 35 | 35.7 | 2 | 37 | 35.9 |
Pension the main family income | (n = 98) | ||||
4 | 4.0 | ||||
State of residence | (n = 99) | (n = 5) | (n = 104) | ||
ᅟVictoria | 50 | 50.5 | 4 | 54 | 51.9 |
ᅟNew South Wales | 18 | 18.2 | 1 | 19 | 18.3 |
ᅟQueensland | 17 | 17.2 | 0 | 17 | 16.3 |
ᅟSouth Australia | 9 | 9.1 | 0 | 9 | 8.6 |
ᅟWestern Australia | 4 | 4.0 | 0 | 4 | 3.8 |
ᅟAustralian Capital Territory | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 |
ᅟTasmania | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ᅟNorthern Territory | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin | (n = 98) | (n = 5) | (n = 103) | ||
ᅟAboriginal | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 |
ᅟTorres Strait Islander | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Country of Birth | (n = 98) | (n = 5) | (n = 103) | ||
ᅟAustralia | 74 | 75.5 | 4 | 78 | 75.7 |
Years since settlement in Australia (non-Australian born) | (n = 23) | (n = 1) | (n = 24) | ||
ᅟ< 5 years | 5 | 21.7 | 0 | 5 | 20.8 |
First language | (n = 96) | (n = 5) | (n = 101) | ||
ᅟEnglish | 84 | 87.5 | 5 | 89 | 88.1 |
Contacting PANDA
Called regarding self | Called regarding otherb | ||
---|---|---|---|
Reasons for contact | (n = 112) | %a | (n = 10) |
ᅟSupport | 86 | 76.8 | 7 |
ᅟInformation about postnatal depression and anxiety | 50 | 44.6 | 5 |
ᅟReassurance | 46 | 41.1 | 5 |
ᅟCrisis support/help | 37 | 33.0 | 2 |
ᅟReferral to other services | 17 | 15.2 | 3 |
ᅟInformation about antenatal depression and anxiety | 16 | 14.3 | 2 |
Feelings before making first call to PANDA | (n = 112) | %a | |
ᅟDesperate | 72 | 64.3 | |
ᅟNervous | 52 | 46.4 | |
ᅟUnsure of how PANDA could help | 51 | 45.5 | |
ᅟScared | 42 | 37.5 | |
ᅟHopeful | 20 | 17.8 | |
ᅟOptimistic | 5 | 4.5 | |
ᅟRelieved | 3 | 2.7 | |
Other (e.g., anxious, worried) | 10 | 8.9 |
n | % | |
---|---|---|
Calls made to PANDA (n = 122) | ||
ᅟ1 | 61 | 50.0 |
ᅟ2 | 29 | 23.8 |
ᅟ3-4 | 20 | 16.4 |
ᅟ≥5 | 11 | 9.0 |
Did PANDA make calls or leave messages to you (n = 123) | ||
ᅟYes | 110 | 89.4 |
Number of calls made by PANDA (n = 109) | ||
ᅟ≤2 | 43 | 39.4 |
ᅟ3-4 | 28 | 25.7 |
ᅟ≥5 | 38 | 34.9 |
Number of messages left by PANDA (n = 88) | ||
ᅟ≤2 | 59 | 67.0 |
ᅟ3-4 | 20 | 22.7 |
ᅟ≥5 | 9 | 10.2 |
Call content
The PANDA staff/volunteers: | na | % |
---|---|---|
Asked me how I was feeling (n = 105) | 105 | 100.0 |
Listened to my story (n = 105) | 105 | 100.0 |
Asked me about my relationship (n = 103) | 102 | 99.0 |
Provided me with information I could trust (n = 104) | 103 | 99.0 |
Reassured me and gave me hope (n = 106) | 103 | 97.2 |
Helped me to feel better about being a parent (n = 99) | 96 | 97.0 |
Followed up on things from previous calls (n = 89) | 86 | 96.6 |
Made sure I was seeing my health care providers (n = 103) | 99 | 96.1 |
Asked me if I was feeling safe (n = 94) | 89 | 94.7 |
Asked me if my baby/children were safe (n = 89) | 83 | 93.3 |
Discussed strategies to manage my distress (n = 102) | 95 | 93.1 |
Encouraged me to talk to my partner/family about experiences (n = 95) | 85 | 89.5 |
Provided me with referrals to other services (n = 92) | 77 | 83.7 |
Acted to keep me or my baby/children safe (n = 53) | 43 | 81.1 |
Encouraged me to spend time connecting with my baby (n = 79) | 58 | 73.4 |
Sent me an information pack (n = 99) | 72 | 72.7 |
Encouraged me to get an accurate diagnosis (n = 83) | 60 | 72.3 |
Asked me about my experience of the birth (n = 85) | 60 | 70.6 |
Supported people who were helping me (n = 60) | 25 | 41.7 |
Offered to talk to my health care providers (n = 80) | 23 | 28.7 |
Helped me to identify what I am doing well and develop realistic views of what is possible (n = 98) | 87 | 88.8 |
Assisted me to understand the impact of my life as a child and young adult on my experience of becoming a parent (n = 87) | 57 | 65.5 |
Views and experiences of callers to PANDA
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neither | Agree | Strongly Agree | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | |
The PANDA staff/volunteers were relaxed and unhurried on the phone (n = 118) | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 19 | 16.1 | 98 | 83.0 |
The PANDA staff/volunteers provided non-judgemental support (n = 117) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.8 | 21 | 17.9 | 95 | 81.2 |
Overall, PANDA helped me (n = 116) | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.9 | 2 | 1.7 | 19 | 16.4 | 94 | 81.0 |
I always felt my worries, anxieties or concerns were taken seriously by the PANDA staff/volunteers (n = 117) | 1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.7 | 21 | 17.9 | 93 | 79.5 |
The PANDA staff/volunteers understood my concerns (n = 118) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.8 | 24 | 20.3 | 93 | 78.8 |
I was happy with the emotional support I received from PANDA staff/volunteers (n = 117) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.4 | 27 | 23.1 | 86 | 73.5 |
The PANDA staff/volunteers were encouraging and reassuring (n = 118) | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.8 | 1 | 0.8 | 30 | 25.4 | 86 | 72.9 |
Emotionally, I felt much better after speaking with someone from PANDA (n = 118) | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.7 | 4 | 3.4 | 36 | 30.5 | 76 | 64.4 |
The PANDA staff/volunteers helped me to understand antenatal and/or postnatal depression and anxiety (n = 118) | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.4 | 16 | 13.5 | 39 | 33.0 | 59 | 50.0 |
During the phone conversations with PANDA, I was always asked whether I had any questions (n = 118) | 1 | 0.8 | 1 | 0.8 | 16 | 13.5 | 53 | 44.9 | 47 | 39.8 |
I was NOT happy with the information given to me by the PANDA staff/volunteers (n = 118) | 91 | 77.1 | 20 | 16.9 | 6 | 5.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.8 |
Having access to PANDA during the evening/night and at weekends is important (n = 117) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.4 | 40 | 34.2 | 73 | 62.4 |
It is important to be able to speak to the same person during every phone call with PANDA (n = 118) | 3 | 2.5 | 24 | 20.3 | 27 | 22.9 | 42 | 35.6 | 22 | 18.6 |
I was comfortable leaving my contact details with PANDA so that they could call me back (n = 117) | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.7 | 3 | 2.6 | 38 | 32.5 | 74 | 63.2 |
It is important that the person I talk to at PANDA has personally experienced antenatal and/or postnatal depression or anxiety (n = 118) | 9 | 7.6 | 37 | 31.3 | 38 | 32.2 | 26 | 22.0 | 8 | 6.8 |
It took a long time for a counsellor to return my call (n = 117) | 48 | 41.0 | 45 | 38.5 | 9 | 7.7 | 12 | 10.2 | 3 | 2.6 |
I would have liked the option to have someone from PANDA visit me at home AS WELL AS receiving support by telephone (n = 117) | 6 | 5.1 | 19 | 16.2 | 27 | 23.1 | 42 | 35.9 | 23 | 19.6 |