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Take Care of Your Mental Health, Mama- Here’s How

By Casey White, Mom's Mental Health Initiative May 20, 2023

Moms Mental Health Initiative is now in the Madison area to help moms struggling with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD).

The organization, expanding to Madison from the Milwaukee area, supports birthing people by sharing information, connecting parents to resources, and providing peer-driven support. The moms who founded the organization suffered from postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression themselves, realized how difficult it was to find help that specialized in perinatal mental health, and decided they could help birthing people access the right care.

It's a great need, too. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 5 moms experiences a perinatal mental health condition. These conditions include postpartum depression and anxiety, perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorder.  Three-quarters of people at risk for perinatal mental health won’t receive the treatment they need. Dads can also be affected, with 1 in 10 experiencing mental health conditions during pregnancy or postpartum. 

Don’t Hesitate to Ask For Help

“Moms navigating these disorders don’t have time to wait,” said Sarah Ornst Bloomquist, co-founder and executive director of Moms Mental Health Initiative. “They need help and they need the right help.”

Bloomquist explained the perinatal period-which encompasses pregnancy and postpartum- comes with a unique set of challenges and experiences that require a knowledgeable provider.

She said your doctor is a great place to start. But, if you don’t receive the response you hope for, keep going, whether it’s speaking with a different doctor or contacting the organization for help. Moms Mental Health Initiative can help you find a doctor, prescriber, or therapist who can help you quickly and accepts your insurance.

“You are not alone,” said Bloomquist. “You deserve to be the parent you want to be and, with the right help, you will feel better.”

Moms Mental Health Initiative shares information through its social media- Instagram and Facebook- and website- www.momsmentalhealthmke.org .