We often struggle to address mental health in our communities of faith. This Mother’s Day, as we honor those who bring forth life and contribute so much to our communities, let us also acknowledge one of the most common complications of childbirth: postpartum depression (PPD). As many as one in seven mothers suffer from postpartum depression, and only 15% of them receive professional treatment. As a society, we already stigmatize mental illness and struggle to talk about it. But when depression arises (in about half of PPD cases for the first time) during what is “supposed” to be such a joyful and happy time, it can be even harder to address.
There are several ways to honor moms in this way on Mother’s Day:
- Have a moment in worship to acknowledge this reality.
- Include this insert in your congregation’s bulletin.
- For more resources, visit the Partners in Health and Wholeness resource page, and filter by “postpartum depression” or click here.
Through this effort we hope more moms experiencing PPD will feel supported and understood, and feel safe talking about their experiences with PPD. We hope faith communities can facilitate moms getting the help they need so they can thrive in mind, body, and spirit, and care for themselves and their families well. We also hope that ultimately we can help change the culture of fear around talking about mental health while promoting the importance of self care.
Will you let us know if you plan to use these resources on Mother’s Day? To do so, please fill out the form at the bottom. Thank you!
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