Help available in Savannah and surrounding areas for moms with postpartum depression
Are you pregnant or new mother?
Are you feeling alone, sad, overwhelmed or angry?
The Mary Telfair Women’s Hospital at St. Joseph’s/Candler and Mental Health America bring you a free line to help you deal with those feelings. Left untreated, postpartum depression can become debilitating.
Contact the Confidential Project Healthy Moms Warmline at 1-800-933-9896 ext. 234 or PHMhelp@mhageorgia.org .
When you call or email the Project Healthy Moms Warmline, please leave a message, and an experienced registered nurse will respond as soon as possible. She will be able to provide peer support and encouragement and to suggest appropriate resources.
Read my article about local moms dealing with postpartum depression here. A big thank you to the moms who were generous enough to share their experiences with PPD.
What is postpartum depression and anxiety?
• Irrational, intrusive thoughts that seem like they are set on repeat. You may ask, ‘Why did I have that thought?’
• Anxiety is prevalent, including worries or obsession about the baby’s health
• Feeling all the time that you are doing everything wrong
• Depression, characterized by intense sadness, anxiety or despair.
• Tearfulness, insomnia, fatigue, appetite disturbance
The line is not for emergencies. It is considered a postpartum emergency if you are afraid you are going to hurt yourself or your child.
What can you expect when you call?
• The first call you will leave a message and Joanne will get back to you within 24 – 48 hours.
• A mother who has been through postpartum depression and anxiety and survived.
• To begin to understand that you are not alone and that there is help.
• Honest support about the good and the bad parts of being a parent.
• Joanne will have a resource list of local counselors should you want one.