1 in 5 women experience depression or anxiety during or after pregnancy |
Maternal Mental Health
During pregnancy and in your postpartum period, your hormones are going haywire. A large majority of moms feel a little all over the place. Anxiety, depression, mood swings that leave your head spinning. This is pretty normal in the first two weeks; you've probably heard of the "Baby Blues." Sometimes, though, it's a little more than we can handle. Here are some resources and places you can go for support:
Local Resources
Here in Del Norte County |
Other Resources
Online and Outside the Area |
For Dads
Because Dads Experience It Too! |
You Are Not Alone
1 in 5 women in the United States feel some sort of anxiety or depression during or after their pregnancy. Because of body and hormonal changes, this can be normal and may go away after a few weeks. If you feel sad, or angry, or nervous and it does not go away--don't be scared! Find someone you can talk to about how you are feeling and find people to help you.
You are not alone!
Here is Martha's story. You can hear other mother's stories here.
You are not alone!
Here is Martha's story. You can hear other mother's stories here.
Bringing Light to Motherhood
Use this self-help tool to learn more about emotional and mental changes
during and after pregnancy and what you can do to prepare yourself.
Or go straight to the Care Plan to make a personal care plan
to print out or keep on your phone or computer.
Local Resources
If you're worried about your safety of the safety of your children, please call 911 or go to the local emergency room.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Mental Health Crisis Text Line
Send TEXT to 741-741 or go to their website.
Trevor Project Lifeline
Call 1-866-488-736 or text 202-304-1200 for LGBTQIA-specific counselors.
Private Insurance
Looking for a therapist or psychiatrist your insurance will cover? Flip your insurance card over and
call the behavioral health line to learn more. You do not need authorization from your
primary care physician to get started, but we recommend taking to your doctor as well.
Beacon Health Options
1-855-765-9703
If you are a Partnership HealthPlan of California Medi-Cal client, this option will get you
connected to a private therapist or psychiatrist that your insurance covers. Learn more at their website.
Mental Health Branch
464-7224 | 1-888-446-4408 | 455 K St.
Walk-in clinic, intake appointments, adult and child psychiatrist available.
United Indian Health Services: Elk Valley
(707) 464-2919 | 2298 Norris Ave.
Mental health counseling available by appointment only.
Remi Vista
707-464-3512 | 888 4th St.
Infant and child mental health counseling.
If you're worried about your safety of the safety of your children, please call 911 or go to the local emergency room.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Mental Health Crisis Text Line
Send TEXT to 741-741 or go to their website.
Trevor Project Lifeline
Call 1-866-488-736 or text 202-304-1200 for LGBTQIA-specific counselors.
Private Insurance
Looking for a therapist or psychiatrist your insurance will cover? Flip your insurance card over and
call the behavioral health line to learn more. You do not need authorization from your
primary care physician to get started, but we recommend taking to your doctor as well.
Beacon Health Options
1-855-765-9703
If you are a Partnership HealthPlan of California Medi-Cal client, this option will get you
connected to a private therapist or psychiatrist that your insurance covers. Learn more at their website.
Mental Health Branch
464-7224 | 1-888-446-4408 | 455 K St.
Walk-in clinic, intake appointments, adult and child psychiatrist available.
United Indian Health Services: Elk Valley
(707) 464-2919 | 2298 Norris Ave.
Mental health counseling available by appointment only.
Remi Vista
707-464-3512 | 888 4th St.
Infant and child mental health counseling.
Other Resources
Postpartum Support International (PSI) Warm-Line
1-800-944-4PPD | 1-800-944-4773
Staffed by trained volunteers, the PSI warm-line is for any parent who is struggling and needs to talk with someone who understands. Warm-line messages are returned every day of the week. Messages left are kept confidential. PSI also hosts free Chat With An Expert sessions for moms and dads.
PSI Online Support Groups
PSI also coordinates online support groups for postpartum depression, perinatal mood changes, perinatal anxiety or if you just need some emotional support. There is also a specific group for military mothers. Find out more here.
Mother Woman Support Groups
A list of support groups in Arcata and Fortuna. If you're interested in becoming a facilitator and starting a
Mother Woman support group in Del Norte County, go here.
Postpartum Progress
A peer-to-peer support website for moms by moms. Also visit their Facebook page and find hope
and inspiration on their Pinterest page.
Mind Body Pregnancy
Takes available and accurate information about mental health during the pregnancy and postpartum
period and simplifies it to answer any of your questions about emotional and mental wellness as a parent.
Mother To Baby
Information about medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you have any questions about
medications you are taking, you can always Ask an Expert on their website.
Blue Dot Project
Founded by a mother who experienced postpartum depression, the blue dot has become
the universal symbol for maternal mental health!
Self-Assessment Quiz for Moms
It's normal to feel a lot of emotions during and after pregnancy. Use this quiz as a conversation starter
the next time you see your healthcare provider to see if you are at risk for maternal depression or anxiety.
Self-Care Tips
Taking care of yourself isn't always the #1 priority with moms, but here are some simple tips to make
sure you're getting enough you time.
How to Talk to Your OB About Mental Health
Talking to your doctor can be difficult and intimidating. Here are 10 tips for talking to your OB-GYN
about your mental health during and after pregnancy.
What to Do When You're Too Afraid to Ask for Help
Asking for help, especially with mental health, can be terrifying. Here are some ideas for what to do
when you just can't seem to get the words out.
Postpartum Depression Online Support Group
A community forum to connect with other women who are experiencing mood disorders
after pregnancy, giving birth or adopting a baby.
Postpartum Progress: New Mom Checklist
A checklist for moms to use to communicate their symptoms with healthcare providers.
Help Others!
Maternal Mental Health Patient Safety Bundle
About 300 babies are born each year in Del Norte County! This means that at least 150 new mothers may be suffering from Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD) every year! You know these women. You see them everyday. You may even be one of them and recognize that smile and nod in other moms--the one that says everything's okay when inside you're desperate and wondering why you hurt so much if you're somehow broken.
Our mothers and babies need love and care! Women in our community deserve spaces to voice their fears, cry it out, and get support from one another. Social support is known to protect mothers from PMAD and bring healing to mothers experiencing PMAD. If you love mothers and babies and you are passionate about their well-being, please consider starting a peer support group. You could be the one to bring hope into a mom's life.
For more information, please contact the Maternal Child Adolescent Health (MCAH) Program at 707-464-0861 or contact us through Del Norte Umbrella.
For Providers
Maternal Mental Health 101 Training
Get up to speed with this free webinar for hosted by 2020 Mom and presented by Postpartum Support International. Learn about the range of maternal mental health disorders, the prevalence, signs and symptoms and recommended treatment options in this complimentary webinar. See live webinars here.
Maternal Mental Health Certificate Training
An individual web-based certificate program for mental health and clinical professionals. Presented by 2020 Moms and Postpartum Support International, this online webinar series includes eight live sessions, small group discussions, and supplemental reading materials. 16 CEUs are offered with a certificate of completion.
The Step Postpartum Depression Training
A free online training program specifically for providers, developed by an expert panel for primary care and suited for any clinical professional working with women.
Maternal Mental Health Patient Safety Bundle
A safety bundle from the Council on Patient Safety, this includes readiness, recognition and prevention,
response, and reporting/systems learning. For more information, visit their website.
California Task Force On the Status of Maternal Mental Health Care (2017)
A report on the status of maternal mental health care in California with recommendations for screening, referrals, and treatment. A strategic plan to shift statewide systems to improve care across California.
Mental Health Disorders Guideline
A manual of best practices for healthcare clinicians that describes best practices for the care of women with
depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders.
ACOG Committee Opinion
This committee opinion on screening for perinatal depression, reaffirmed in 2016, provides
recommendations and an overview of screening tools.
ACOG Perinatal Depression Resources
An overview of the resources ACOG has provided to support OB-GYNs in screening and caring for perinatal depression.
A Guide to Coding
This quick-guide gives the rundown on how to code for perinatal depression.