When I put out a poll in my initial blog post I asked you all what topic(s) you're most interested in and a large number of you selected perinatal mental health. Did you know, "approximately 1 in 10 women will experience postpartum depression after giving birth, with some studies reporting 1 in 7" (1). Or that, "approximately 6% of pregnant women and 10% of postpartum women develop anxiety" (2). As I read those statistics my first thought was, but imagine how much those stats might change if more of us spoke up about how we are or were feeling...
While I am not certified in perinatal mental health I have received some additional education in this area during my training to become a lactation counselor. I am also a mom who has done her own research and looking around for what resources are out there. That brings me to a free resource I want you all to know about.
Postpartum Support International (PSI) was established in 1987 to "increase awareness among public and professional communities about the emotional changes that women experience during pregnancy and postpartum" (3). What's amazing about this organization is that they provide both a free HelpLine that you can call or text as well as a ton of different online support groups. Even for dads. You may be surprised to know that 1 in 10 dads suffer from postpartum depression.
If you prefer speaking with someone in person you can fill out their brief online survey and be connected with one of their volunteers who will help connect you with a trained professional or support group near you. They truly offer a resource for everyone.
They're also very active on social media. You can follow them @postpartumsupportinternational. If you choose to utilize any of their support groups I would love to hear about it. I hope to offer both 1:1 appointments and support groups at Nurture Motherhood in the future and want to know how we can best meet your needs. Feel free to email me any time, kala@nurturemotherhood.com.
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Resources
https://www.postpartum.net/about-psi/