PANDAS Group Offers a Lifeline for Chiswick Parents
Support for those facing perinatal mental health challenges
St. Paul's Church in Grove Park
March 31, 2026
Parents and carers in Chiswick who are struggling with their mental health during pregnancy or early parenthood now have a dedicated local space to find comfort, connection and understanding. The PANDAS Chiswick support group is meeting twice in April at St Paul’s Church in Grove Park, offering a warm, non-judgemental environment for anyone affected by perinatal mental illness.
PANDAS Foundation is a UK-wide charity providing free emotional support, information and signposting for parents, carers and their networks from conception through to a child’s first year. The organisation’s mission is to ensure that no parent feels alone, and its trained volunteers offer empathy, lived experience and practical guidance across a range of services. As the leaflet explains, “PANDAS is a charity that is here to offer hope, empathy and signposting for every parent or carer who may be suffering with perinatal mental illness – from conception through to birth and beyond.”
Perinatal mental health conditions can include antenatal or postnatal depression and anxiety, OCD, PTSD or birth trauma, tokophobia and postpartum psychosis. Early recognition and support can make a profound difference to the wellbeing of the whole family, and PANDAS emphasises the importance of seeking help from a GP or midwife as soon as symptoms arise.
The Chiswick meet-ups provide a safe, friendly space for parents and their babies to talk openly, listen to others and share experiences with people who truly understand. The charity notes that “sometimes it might feel like no one understands what you are going through,” and the support groups are designed to counter that isolation.
Alongside local groups, PANDAS offers a national helpline, WhatsApp support, online peer support, social media communities and a new suite of services launching in 2026 under “The NEST”, including a mental-health-focused antenatal course and partner support sessions.
The Chiswick sessions take place on Tuesday 14 April, 10am–12pm and Tuesday 28 April, 10am–12pm.
The group welcomes anyone who feels they might benefit from talking, listening or simply being in a supportive environment. Parents can drop in for part or all of the session, and babies are warmly welcomed.
PANDAS relies on donations to continue its work supporting families across the UK. The leaflet highlights that early intervention can prevent mental health from deteriorating further and that the charity urgently depends on public support to keep its services running.
The Chiswick meet-ups are part of a growing network of local groups helping parents feel less alone during one of the most emotionally complex periods of life. For many, simply being heard is the first step toward recovery.
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