Mental Health & Wellness Support

A new baby brings excitement—and exhaustion!

Becoming a parent is exciting, thrilling, and wonderful. It is also major life-changing event that can come with mental and emotional challenges. The Philly Loves Families team is here to connect you with people and programs that lend mental and emotional support.

Postpartum

"Postpartum" means the time after childbirth. At Philly Loves Families, we know that maternal health continues to be important, even after the baby's birth.

What are the "baby blues”?

Many new mothers experience something called the “baby blues." This often starts two to three days after childbirth and ends about two weeks later.

If you have “baby blues” you may:

  • Cry or weep, and not be sure why
  • Sleep poorly even when the baby is asleep
  • Have mood changes
  • Feel sad, impatient, or vulnerable
  • Find it hard to concentrate

If you're feeling this way, Philly Loves Families encourages you to:

  • Ask for and accept help from family and friends
  • Try to sleep whenever the baby sleeps
  • Eat well and avoid alcohol and drugs
  • Talk to other moms about their experience

If the "baby blues" last longer than two weeks, talk to a provider. You may be experiencing postpartum depression.

What is postpartum depression (PPD)?

Postpartum depression may initially be mistaken for “baby blues," but PPD symptoms tend to start a little later, ranging from about two weeks after the baby’s birth through the baby’s first year of life.

PPD is less common than the “baby blues.” About 10-20 percent of new mothers will experience symptoms of postpartum depression. If you have PPD you may:

  • Feel depressed, overwhelmed, and very tired
  • Have severe mood swings
  • Have trouble sleeping or sleep too much
  • Lose your appetite, or eat much more than usual
  • Feel intensely grouchy and angry
  • Have anxiety or panic attacks
  • Feel shame, guilt, or inadequate
  • Find it hard to concentrate
  • Avoid family and friends

If you're a mother with PPD you might feel especially upset if:

  • It is hard for you to bond with your baby
  • You fear that you’re not a good mother
  • You have thoughts of harming your baby
  • You can't stop thinking about death or suicide
What to do if you feel you're dealing with PPD

Try to remember that the feelings you may struggle with are a part of PPD. This is no one's fault. You are not a "bad" mom and you haven't done anything wrong.

Talk to someone, such as a partner, family member, a friend or someone else you trust and feel safe with.

Check in with your health care provider, such as your primary care provider, obstetrician/midwife, or your baby’s provider.

Reach out to Philly Families CAN online or by calling (215) 685-4701. A Philly Families CAN coordinator can connect you to a home visiting program that offers in-home therapy and other supports (for topics like sleep, feeding you baby, and more). Home visiting—including in-home therapy through any of the programs—is entirely free and voluntary.

Learn more about the symptoms and risk factors for postpartum depression.

Tips for seeking and accepting help
  • Let your partner, family, friends, and/or medical provider know that you need their help.
  • Visit PhillyFamiliesCAN.com or call (215) 685-4701 to get connected with a support professional who can come to your home to support you and your family. This service is free and completely voluntary. When you fill out the form or call, you will be connected to a Philly Families CAN coordinator who will listen to what you need and offer options for support.

If you think of hurting yourself or your baby, immediately tell your partner, family members, a friend, or someone you trust. Have them take over the care for your baby and help you to get to an emergency room immediately or call 911 to get emergency medical services.

You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to speak to a person who can provide support.

Let’s Talk: Postpartum Depression Awareness

Reducing the stigma associated with postpartum depression starts with awareness of the disorder and its symptoms, and knowing you're not alone.

Maternal health resources

Philly Loves Families wants you to know that there are many resources for maternal health that will provide support during pregnancy and after childbirth.

National Maternal Mental Health Line

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides 24/7, free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy.

Available in English and Spanish.

Call or text 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1-833-943-5746).

TTY users can use a preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 1-833-943-5746.

Community Behavioral Health (CBH)

If you're on Medicaid, CBH can help with substance abuse and mental health challenges.

CBH is not a provider, but they will help you arrange and pay for behavioral health services.

CBH Member Services
888-545-2600

Postpartum Support International

Anyone can call or text this free helpline to get basic information and support.

In English or en Espanol
1-800-944-4773

Text in English
1-800-944-4773

Text en Espanol
1-971-203-7773

Postpartum Stress Center

The Postpartum Stress Center provides support and treatment for pregnant and postpartum women and their families.

Counselors at the Center offer in-person and teletherapy counseling to women, men and couples. They are LGBTQ affirmative.

Call to make an appointment
610-525-7527

Penn Center for Women's Behavioral Wellness

The Center is for women's behavioral wellness at all points during life. It is both a patient/client provider and a research facility.

Call to make an appointment
215-573-8886

Women's Emotional Wellness Center

This center is for women’s intensive outpatient program (IOP). IOP is for mental health symptoms than require more care than weekly therapy but not hospitalization.

Call or go online to make an appointment.
1-866-225-5654

Drexel Mother Baby Connections

The Connections program offers individual and group therapy sessions to help mothers.

Infant care is available during therapy.

Call to make an appointment
215-553-7128

Council for Relationships

The Council helps to connect individuals,  couples, and families with therapists and psychiatrists.

They also find people services they can afford, using a sliding scale.

Request an appointment online.

Maternal Wellness Village

This program is offered to all Black women regardless of income and access to resources.

The goal is to provide support, education and community during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Reach out online.

Coping with loss

The loss of a baby is traumatic. Parents need to grieve following the death of their baby. Philly Loves Families is here to connect you with supports to help you during this difficult time.

Unite, Inc.

UNITE is a Philadelphia area organization that provides support following the loss of a baby, including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth and infant death.

UNITE connects parents to peer-to-peer grief support groups.

Learn more
Still Standing Magazine

Read stories from around the world by writers who have survived the aftermath of loss and grief.

Still Standing Magazine is the world’s leading online voice in breaking the silence on child loss — from conception to adulthood, and infertility.

Read stories

General Philadelphia mental health resources

From general mental health to crisis intervention, there are many options for Philly residents who need safe and confidential help for their mental and emotional well-being.

Healthy Minds Philly

Find tools and resources to support and improve the mental health and wellbeing of all Philadelphians.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

MHFA teaches the skills needed to identify, understand, and respond to signs of behavioral health challenges or crises.

First Aid is given until appropriate supports are received.

Crisis Text Line

Text “HOME” to 741741

A free, 24/7 support for those in any type of crisis.

If you text “HOME” to 741741 from anywhere in the United States you will be connected to a trained Crisis Counselor.

Philadelphia WARMline

Call 267-867-4381

For those who are not in an immediate crisis situation but just need to talk to someone who “gets it”?

Operated by NAMI | Philadelphia.

Suicide & Crisis Hotline

Call 215-686-4420

A 24-hour call center to assist people and their families with behavioral health crises.

Operated by the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services.

Domestic Violence Hotline

Call 866-723-3014

A 24-hour call line in Philadelphia to get help for yourself or someone else.

Operated by Women Against Abuse.