3 helpful resources for postpartum depression

In Canada, 10 to 15 percent of women are affected by postpartum depression (PPD), but many don’t have access to care. If you’re feeling unhappy, exhausted, anxious, disinterested in your baby, helpless, lonely or guilty, or are experiencing suicidal thoughts, it’s time to get help. Luckily, in our digital age, there are resources online—so you can get support wherever and whenever.

1. The Journey When you’re feeling isolated, hearing other women’s accounts of dealing with postpartum depression can be powerful. This special project developed by Pacific Post Partum Support Society provides videos and stories of women’s PPD experiences to let you know you’re not alone. You’ll find answers to questions like, “Why don’t I feel happy?” and “Is this depression?” This guide will help you navigate how to talk to your healthcare provider, direct you to where you can find assistance and even let your partner know how to best support you. Visit postpartum.org/the-journey.

2. Inkblot Counsellors who work with this online video counselling service know how hard it is to get out when you have a newborn and are feeling the weight of postpartum depression. Inkblot brings the help to you. All you have to do is fill out a survey online, choose from the counsellors matched specifically to you and schedule a session (the first one is free). The service is affordable and covered by many health insurance plans. Though it’s currently only available in Ontario, it welcomes registrants from other provinces and will be expanding soon. Visit inkblottherapy.com to get started.

3. PPD ACT This health research app, which was brought to Canada by Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, lets users participate in a study on the causes of PPD and postpartum psychosis (PPP), a rare illness in which a woman enters a psychotic state, has delusions or makes irrational judgments. Using a survey, the app identifies those who have experienced either condition. Users can then provide DNA samples via mail-in saliva kits. Though the app doesn’t provide immediate support, its goal is to help develop effective treatments. Download it at iTunes or Google Play.

Read more: Parenting through severe postpartum depression Chrissy Teigen writes an open letter about her postpartum depression Recognizing the signs of postpartum depression