Our practice recently hosted a meeting with two inspiring mums from the Poynton PANDAs group.

The two ladies, who are nothing to do with the bear variety of pandas, help run a local voluntary group for new or expectant mums who may be suffering from perinatal or postnatal depression.

The group meets weekly in a Poynton church hall and is focused on supporting any local mum or dad who is suffering or recovering from a range of symptoms that constitute this common and serious condition.

Most new mums will experience ups and downs and can feel unhappy, depressed, stressed or anxious before and after childbirth.

However, the significant life change, along with hormonal and physical stresses, can leave new parents with symptoms ranging from guilt and low confidence to apathy, insomnia and withdrawal.

This can persist during pregnancy and for years after birth.

Postnatal depression is surprisingly common but, like other types of depression, people often ignore the symptoms, pushing themselves to get on with life, often wearing a ‘coping mask’ with friends, work colleagues and family.

Groups like PANDAs, and the SMILE group in Macclesfield and Congleton, play a key role in the identification, sign posting, and support needed to help beat such a disabling condition.

I was delighted to hear that PANDAs have helped many local parents accept their diagnosis, and encourage mums, including one of the volunteers who works there and came to meet us, to see their GP.

Self-help, formal and informal support, time off work and online support can all help people understand and manage their symptoms and recover.

More serious symptoms, however, may need more specialist support.

Your GP can help, and it’s so important not to ignore the common but serious dark thoughts of giving up.

Please speak to your GP, The Samaritans, or NHS 111 if you have any concerns that you, or someone you know, may be suffering from depression.

Help is also available from Big White Wall, an online community supporting people who are stressed, anxious or depressed.