For women who are suffering from postpartum depression and need help now, there is a great hotline that I found at PPD Hope. The number is: (877) PPD-HOPE, or (877) 773-4673. I called it myself late last night just to check it out and make sure that a live person answers. Sure enough, a woman answered the line and confirmed that a live person answers 24 hours every day. You have options to receive free literature on PPD and/or get in touch with their peer support program.
The PPD Hope web site also offers a PPD screening test that you can take on the site so you can quickly and easily find out if you might need medical assistance or counseling.
I think this is a fabulous resource, so I want to help spread the word. PPD Hope was created by the Family Mental Health Institute (FMHI), a non-profit based in Washington, DC. The FMHI is working to make postpartum depression screening a universal standard of care across the U.S. Federal legislation is in the works, however currently this issue is left in the hands of individual states. Hopefully one day in the near future, every new mom will be screened for PPD before she leaves the hospital with her new baby.
6 comments:
Thanks for this resource, sounds like a wonderful service.
I just wanted to comment about the hope to screen all postpartum women for PPD before they leave the hospital, we need to be clear in our lobbying efforts, screening in the hospital is helpful in terms of education but doesn't necessarily identify those who will ultimately suffer from PPD, because we leave the hospital before the PPD sets in. We need the screening to occur at 2,4and 6 week checkups w/ the OB/midwives and with the pediatricians as well if we really want to accurately identify PPD. Just my two cents ;)
Thanks, Kate! You're awesome to clarify this issue.
Yes, you're right on target -- new moms really need multiple check-ups after delivery, with screenings at each one. My PPD started the day after I went home from the hospital and got really bad a week after that. If only I'd had screening at that point.... then maybe I wouldn't have suffered for 3 months.
Thanks so much for your comment!!
Warmly,
Kristin
Let people know it can even start later than that. I didn't get ppd until my second son was 5 months old. Because he was my second and I had had no problem with the first, it took me a while to realize it. And then since it wasn't close to his birth, but much letter I kept telling myself that it could have been what was happening.
Hi, Yertle!
Yes, you are so right -- so glad you brought that up. I've heard of women who breastfeed and then are hit with PPD when they stop breastfeeding because of the major hormone changes happening then. This could be a year after the baby's birth. Or a woman can be suffering from PPD and just not realize it till months or years later -- just assume the symptoms are due to lack of sleep, stress, etc. -- until the PPD eventually evolves into a depression that is so severe that it's finally diagnosed.
Thanks for your comment!!
Warmly,
Kristin
I met your friend Tina at BlogHer today. She told me about your site. It is such a great resource. I felt so alone with my ppd until I blogged about it and women came out of the blogging community to support me.
nice post! kind comments! thanks!!!
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