Experiencing mental health symptoms during or after your pregnancy can be worrying. You may be concerned about your ability to take care of yourself and your child as you navigate your mental health challenges. When looking for support, it can help to remember that you’re not alone. According to the American Psychiatric Association, around 1 in 5 women experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and 1 in 10 meet the criteria for postpartum depression. Fortunately, these conditions can be managed with proper support and treatment.

3 places to look for perinatal mental health support

The perinatal period encompasses the duration of your pregnancy as well as the weeks and months after. Postpartum mental health symptoms don’t always develop right away. They may occur up to a year after birth and, left untreated, may persist for much longer. If you’re experiencing perinatal mental health symptoms, it’s important to be proactive. Some places you can find guidance and support include:

• Online resources — Educating yourself about specific mental health conditions and symptoms may offer insight into your own condition. Learning about treatment options can help you find a way forward. If you’re looking for good educational resources, trustworthy websites, videos from mental health experts and informational blogs can be a great place to start. With these free resources, you can stay informed as you explore your mental health and potential treatment options.
• Support groups — Pregnancy and the postpartum period can come with significant challenges. If you try to work through these challenges alone, you may feel overwhelmed and isolated. An online support group can be a powerful, convenient resource for new and expectant parents. These support groups serve to connect you with other people experiencing similar challenges. Support groups are all about sharing, learning and growing together, judgment-free. In a mental health support group, you can be open about your thoughts and feelings. You can share with people who understand what you’re going through. You can also learn from the experiences of others. Support groups are a great way to connect with others and grow as part of a healing-focused community.
• Mental health treatment centers — Mental health symptoms aren’t always manageable on your own. If you’re experiencing severe or persistent symptoms, treatment may be necessary. Treatments like psychotherapy can help you process your thoughts and emotions. A good mental health treatment provider will offer multiple levels of care. This means you can get treatment tailored to your needs.

Levels of care for perinatal mental health treatment

• Residential Treatment — For significant mental health struggles, Residential Treatment may be necessary. Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) offer 24/7 monitoring and support in a welcoming, safe environment. RTCs incorporate a variety of treatment methods. Frequent one-on-one therapy sessions tend to play a crucial role; in addition, you may benefit from other treatments like family therapy and emotion regulation sessions. With Residential Treatment, you can get the highest level of treatment and support.
• Partial Hospitalization — Partial Hospitalization and Residential Treatment offer many of the same advantages. The main difference is that, whereas Residential Treatment offers round-the-clock care, with Partial Hospitalization, clients return to their homes in the evening. This means you can get comprehensive treatment without overnight stays. Partial Hospitalization is often beneficial as a transitory level of care. If you’ve recently completed a course of Residential Treatment, Partial Hospitalization can help you transition to less intensive treatment.
• Intensive Outpatient care — Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) offer flexible, effective treatment. An IOP typically involves weekly therapy sessions and several hours of daily treatment. If your needs or schedule prevents you from getting in-person treatment, you can look for a provider that offers virtual IOP.

Get holistic perinatal mental health support at Lightfully

At Lightfully, we’re committed to helping our clients navigate all the twists and turns of life. Are you working through mental and emotional changes that can come with pregnancy? Do you need guidance on the challenges of being a new parent? Regardless of where you are in your journey, we can help you. Our Precision Care Model is built on a framework of data-driven, compassionate and whole-person-centered care. With our help, you can get the support you need during pregnancy and beyond.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step on your perinatal mental health journey, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.