This commentary is by Lindsay Lachant and Kimberleigh Weiss-Lewit, co-chairs of the Vermont chapter of Postpartum Support International.
Here in Vermont, data from the U.S. Census bureau shows that 5,342 babies were born between July 2021 and July 2022, meaning that thousands of our Vermont state families are coping with perinatal mental health challenges today.
Pregnancy and childbirth are expected to be times of joy and excitement, and so they are for many people. Yet for one out of five women and one out of 10 men expecting or living with a new baby, the joy is mixed with feelings of anxiety, depression, or other emotional or mental health issues during pregnancy, post-loss, or through the first 12 months of the baby’s life (the perinatal period).
May was Maternal Mental Health Month, intended to bring community awareness to the No. 3 complication of childbearing. Additionally, both World Maternal Mental Health Day and National Maternal Mental Health Week, also in May, shined a light on the all-too-often hidden problem of perinatal mental health.
Only about one in four people dealing with perinatal mental health get treatment.
Lots of new moms say they have “baby blues” after giving birth, but they feel they’re expected to get over it on their own. We know now, though, that perinatal mental health challenges can be a lot more than just feeling blue.
The good news is that we have ways to support parents and other family members, and Postpartum Support International can help them find the resources they need to get back to feeling like themselves again.
“In Rutland County, we have seen an increase in new parents voicing concerns about their mental health during childbearing years, and the need for more support,” said Lauren Norford of Early Childhood & Family Mental Health Services at Rutland Mental Health. “As a community, we have been working to address this. We now have prevention programs as well as treatment options for parents with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
Rutland is hosting a national walk — Climb out of the Darkness: You Are Not Alone — for families and support people on Saturday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to noon at Rotary Park. The event is designed to raise awareness and offer community and connection for people experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. People can register and get information here.
Postpartum Support International connects individuals and families to the resources and support needed to give them the strongest and healthiest start possible. The state chapter can be reached here and can provide support services and information on local resources. The organization’s national HelpLine (800-944-4773) connects parents, family members or friends with a range of support services, including trained volunteers, many of whom have their own personal experience with perinatal mental health.