Dear potential participant,

This is an invitation to participate in research being conducted by Remi Briody, psychology (Honours) students at the University of Ballarat. The research is being conducted under the supervision of Ms. Megan Jenkins from the School of Behavioural Social Sciences and Humanities. This study will investigate the relationship between social factors and symptoms of depression and anxiety in mothers with infants (aged between 0 -18 months).

If you volunteer to participate in this research, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire package which covers areas such as social and partner support, infant sleep behaviour, depression, anxiety and stress. The questionnaire package will also ask you to provide some basic demographic information including your age, relationship status and number and age of your children.

The researchers understand that the nature of some of the questions may be sensitive, and therefore, participation is completely voluntary. You may choose to complete the survey on paper and return it to the researchers, or via the link at the bottom of this page.

In both cases, your responses are completely anonymous. The information you supply can in no way be linked back to you after you return your survey. Further, only the two researchers will have access to the data. Once you have completed the survey, you will be given an option to enter a raffle to win a pamper pack, valued at approximately $100 to thank you for your time.

The questionnaire takes approximately twenty minutes to complete and it is important that each question is answered as honestly as possible for the research to be of significant value. Please note that by handing in your completed survey you are giving your consent to participate in the study. You may withdraw from participation at any time whilst completing the questionnaire, however, we will be unable to identify your questionnaire following completion and return, hence withdrawal at that stage will not be possible. Aggregate results may be published.

If you have any questions or concerns about this research either now or after you have completed the questionnaire you are encouraged to discuss these at any time. You may contact the principal researcher, Megan Jenkins at the number above. If you have any concerns or would like more information regarding parenting, maternal and child health, you can call Tresillian's 24-HR Parents Help Line on Freecall 1800 637 357 or the Maternal and Child Health Line on 13 22 29. If you would like to talk to someone regarding symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, you can call the Post and Antenatal Depression Association on 1300 726 306.

Please understand that we care for your welfare. As the questionnaire is fully voluntary and anonymous, we will not have a record of your contact details. Since we will be unable to contact you, we have supplied our telephone numbers in the belief that, should you need to, you will contact us.

Thank you for your time and consideration in participating in this research.