Cash fears may force Shropshire postnatal depression charity helpline to shut
A post-natal depression charity set up by a couple in Shropshire is in desperate need of funds to keep a helpline running over the festive period after it was swamped with calls for help.
, was launched last year by couple Rachael and Stuart Dobson, who are from Shrewsbury, to help support women and men suffering from pre and postnatal depression.
But it is struggling to raise £2,000 to help keep its help line running over Christmas and into the new year.
In the past year, the charity has seen demand increase almost four times and is now supporting more than 1,000 families.
Mrs Dobson said the money was vital and said without it hours would need to be cut or the service would have to come to a halt.
Mrs Dobson suffered post-natal depression after the birth of her son Andreas in February 2010. After being told she couldn't attend a local postnatal depression course, she set up her own support group.
She said: "The money is needed to keep the helpline afloat.
"We need to keep our help line open over Christmas as that is one of our busiest times. If the cash cannot be raised we are left in difficult position of either cutting the hours it is open or closing it. This isn't an option."
The helpline, manned by trained volunteers, offers a listening ear and support to mums and dads suffering from pre or postnatal depression. The Pandas Foundation also runs support groups and online advice.
On Saturday volunteers from the group will be bag packing at Shrewsbury's Iceland store on the Lancaster Retail Park in Harlescott to raise cash for the helpline.
Loose Women star Denise Welch agreed to become a charity patron of the Pandas Foundation.
By Catherine Ferris
