May Is Maternal Mental Health Month; Postpartum Support International Urges Friends, Family to Check on New and Expectant Moms, Discuss Mental Health

News provided by

May 01, 2024, 08:00 ET

One in Five Mothers Experience Mental Health Disorders During or
After Pregnancy; Support and Treatment are Available, Accessible, and Effective

PORTLAND, Ore., May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- May brings National Maternal Mental Health Month, World Maternal Mental Health Day (May 1), and Mother's Day (May 12), making it an ideal time to talk about perinatal mental health (PMH) and to educate mothers and the people in their lives about postpartum depression and other PMH disorders. Nonprofit Postpartum Support International (PSI) is working to improve PMH disorder awareness and access to free support and care while reducing stigma around perinatal mental health disorders.

One in five mothers and one in seven fathers experience depression or anxiety during the perinatal period. Many people don't realize what they're experiencing is normal and treatable. Postpartum Support International is hosting its annual conference in Kansas City June 28-July 2 as part of its ongoing mission to stop the stigma around these conditions and help parents get the support they need to feel better. (PRNewsfoto/Postpartum Support International)

Each May, PSI puts extra emphasis on educating the public during National Maternal Mental Health Month. May is also when Americans celebrate mothers and motherhood, which is anything but joyful for those suffering from a PMH disorder. Research shows:

PMH disorders affect 800,000 people a year, but only 25% of them receive treatment.
One in five women and at least one in 10 men experience depression or anxiety during the perinatal period, which includes pregnancy, post-loss, and 12 months postpartum.
Despite improvements in the understanding of these disorders, each year, hundreds of thousands of parents silently suffer because they don't know what they are experiencing is common and treatable and they feel embarrassed and ashamed.

"After my son was born in 1994, people marveled that I lost the baby weight in only three weeks. My impulse was to break out in tears and tell them, 'That's because I'm too anxious and sad to eat!' Instead, I tried to smile. Despite being a therapist who specializes in depression and anxiety, I did not recognize my own condition," said Wendy Davis PhD, PMH-C, executive director of Postpartum Support International. "The most effective thing anyone can do to improve maternal mental health is to talk about it, to acknowledge that these disorders are real, they are frightening, and they can carry risk. But with the help of informed care and treatment, they are transitory."

This year, to boost awareness of perinatal mental health disorders and reduce stigma and shame, PSI is encouraging people to wear a blue dot pin or sticker to show they recognize and understand the struggles perinatal mental health disorders bring. TheBlueDotProject is part of PSI and the hope is that the symbol (included in PSI's logo) will help connect people to resources and support.

PMH disorders are the most frequent complications of childbearing. They are also ranked among the top underlying causes of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. Although postpartum depression is commonly cited, other PMH disorders include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. They affect parents of every culture, age, income, gender, and race.

While symptoms vary, PMH disorders commonly make mothers feel alone and helpless. They may be paralyzed by anxiety and doubtful of their ability to parent, which can lead to feelings of regret and despondency at a time society dictates should be one of the happiest of their lives. For a woman suffering from a PMH disorder, there's nothing scarier than feeling alone, abandoned, or without the help she desperately needs.

Moms and their partners should know support and care are available, and no diagnosis is needed to get help. PSI offers coordination, comfort, and peer support, helping people find the right resources online and in their own communities. Parents can call the PSI Helpline for support and resources at 1-800-944-4773 (English and Spanish), text "help" to 1-800-944-4773 (English) or 971-203-7773 (Spanish) or visit postpartum.net. New this year is Connect by PSI, an app that provides free, easy access to resources and support.

PSI has an online Perinatal Mental Health Provider Directory that lists trained providers and support groups and operates a Perinatal Psychiatric Consultation line, through which any medical provider can consult with an expert perinatal psychiatrist at no charge. PSI facilitates more than 50 free virtual support groups including those for military families, LGBTQIA+ families, Spanish speakers, and more.

Davis said, "May is a great time to get this message out, and we hope members of the community will help us do it. To the parents suffering: We see you. You are not alone. This is temporary. With help, you will feel like yourself again."

Ways to help a mother experiencing a PMH disorder:

Let her know that PSI's website (postpartum.net) and helpline (1-800-944-4PPD) provide free access to comfort and support. Pull up the website, make the call, or send the text if she gives you permission and needs help doing it.
Tell her that she's doing a great job, even though she might not feel like it.
Tell her you can see her baby is comforted by her and loves her.
Hug her and remind her that she is loved and valued by many, including her baby.
Provide a safe space for her to express her anxiety and fears.
Make sure she knows that it's clear she's trying her best, that you are proud of her, and that every new mom struggles even though it might not seem that way.
Don't ask her what you can do to help. Do it. Laundry, cooking or ordering takeout, and watching the baby so she can have time alone are all ways to provide support.
Make sure she knows PMH disorders are common and temporary and that it is OK to ask for help.

About Postpartum Support International
Founded by a new mother in 1987 to increase awareness among public and professional communities about the emotional difficulties women can experience during and after pregnancy, Postpartum Support International (PSI) offers a wealth of resources for a wide range of needs, situations, and audiences to give families the strongest and healthiest start possible through support and community. PSI offers support, resources, best-practice training and certification for healthcare professionals and volunteer coordinators nationwide and in more than 30 countries. PSI is committed to eliminating stigma and ensuring compassionate and quality care and support are available to all families. Need help? Call 1-800-944-4PPD (4773), visit postpartum.net, or download the Connect by PSI app.

SOURCE Postpartum Support International