09/23/2026
🌿 POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION IS REAL.
Having a baby can bring joy, but it can also bring exhaustion, fear, sadness, anxiety, and emotions that feel difficult to explain.
Postpartum depression is not a sign that you are a bad mother.
It is a mental health condition that deserves understanding, support, and professional care.
You are allowed to say:
• “I don’t feel like myself.”
• “I feel overwhelmed.”
• “I cry more than I expected.”
• “I feel disconnected from my baby.”
• “I need help.”
💜 Asking for help is not weakness. It is care.
What would you say to a new mother who is quietly struggling?
🚨 KNOW THE SIGNS OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
Postpartum depression can look different from one mother to another.
Look out for:
• Persistent sadness or crying
• Feeling hopeless or worthless
• Extreme guilt about motherhood
• Loss of interest in things you normally enjoy
• Feeling emotionally disconnected from your baby
• Severe anxiety or constant worrying
• Difficulty sleeping, even when the baby is sleeping
• Significant changes in appetite
• Feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope
• Thoughts of hurting yourself or feeling that your family would be better without you
These symptoms deserve attention, especially when they persist or interfere with daily life.
💜 You do not have to wait until you are completely overwhelmed before asking for help.
Which sign do you think people misunderstand the most
🤱🏾 SHE NEEDS SUPPORT TOO.
When a baby arrives, everyone asks:
“Is the baby okay?”
Let’s also ask:
“How is the mother doing?”
Families can help by:
• Listening without judgment
• Helping with meals and household responsibilities
• Giving the mother opportunities to rest
• Helping with the baby when appropriate
• Encouraging her to seek professional support
• Avoiding statements like “You should be happy” or “Just pray about it”
• Taking her concerns seriously
Sometimes the most powerful words are simply:
“I see that you’re struggling. I’m here with you. Let’s get help.”
💜 Who supported you, or someone you love, during the postpartum period!
🇱🇷 FOR MOTHERS IN LIBERIA: YOU CAN SEEK HELP.
Liberia’s health system includes mental health and psychosocial support, and the Ministry of Health is working to strengthen community and facility based maternal and mental health services. (Ministry of Health Liberia)
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression:
• Start by speaking with a healthcare provider, midwife, nurse, physician, or mental health professional.
• Ask your local health facility about mental health and psychosocial support and referral options.
• Partners In Health Liberia works with the Ministry of Health to integrate mental health services into primary care and supports identification, referral, and treatment of common mental health conditions. (Partners In Health Liberia)
• The Ministry of Health provides maternal health and mental health services through Liberia’s public health system. (Ministry of Health Liberia)
🚨 If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, please seek emergency medical help immediately and do not remain alone.
You deserve care. Your baby deserves a mother who is supported.
💜 The Friendly Counselor Foundation
If you could tell every new mother in Liberia one thing about postpartum depression, what would you tell?
