Tuesday, May 06, 2008 Update

Group and Phone Support Hiatus

Brooklyn PPD Support is on hiatus until the fall of 2008 while Molly and Chris care for their respective newborns and Chris relocates for the summer.

For perinatal mood disorder information and telephone support, please contact the Postpartum Resource Center of New York at 631.422.2255 or www.postpartumny.org.

For support group alternatives, contact Realbirth in Manhattan at 212.367.9006 or www.realbirth.com

Also, please click on our links for additional perinatal mood disorder information, local mental health practitioners and online resources.

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posted by C. Lindsay-Abaire @ 6:54 PM  

Who We Are
We are two moms of young boys who each struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety. Between us we experienced insomnia, loss of appetite, over-concern about the baby, suicidal thoughts, escape fantasies, debilitating guilt, worthlessness, agitation, inability to concentrate, hospitalization, hopelessness, excessive crying, anger, confusion and other symptoms associated with postpartum mood disorders, and have made full recoveries.

Molly has a master of social work degree from Southern Connecticut State University, where she conducted research on peer support and also co-led psychoeducational groups.

Chris has been a phone volunteer through Depression After Delivery and The Postpartum Resource Center of NY since 2002 and is a postpartum doula with the Brooklyn-based Birth Day Presence.

What We Do
We established a peer support group in Brooklyn in 2006 as a place where pregnant and postpartum women can get support if they think they are at risk for PPD, are experiencing symptoms and need further help and resources, or are in the care of a therapist and want to attend the group as part of their treatment plan. The group is free, meets twice monthly (usually on the second and fourth Sunday of each month), and babies are welcome to join us. Women are encouraged to attend for as many weeks as they feel the group is helpful, whether once for information or weekly for ongoing support. Please note that the function of this group is to provide a forum for the exchange of peer support. It does not replace care provided by a licensed mental health practitioner.

Emotional support from empathetic listeners is one key part of expediting a woman's recovery from PPD. A support group might be the only place a mom feels safe to share her feelings without being judged or gossiped about, as it is private and confidential. Women in the group share and validate each others experiences, and women further along in the recovery process set an example of wellness and hope to those moms in despair.

For more information about the symptoms of and recovery from postpartum depression please see our section titled "Helpful Websites". We are growing this site and will be adding more educational information, strategies for recovery, and resources for partners, family and friends in the near future.

Postpartum Support International's Universal Message:

You are not alone
This is not your fault
You will feel better