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Postnatal depression and perinatal mental health

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

How can other people help? 

This section is for family and friends who want to support someone experiencing a perinatal mental health problem. 

If your partner is pregnant or recently gave birth and you’re worried about your own mental health during this time, see our page on partners’ mental health. 

It might feel upsetting and frustrating if someone close to you is experiencing a perinatal mental health problem. But it’s important not to blame them for how they are feeling. 

Some people who experience perinatal mental health problems might not want to ask for help. This may be out of fear that they are judged as a bad parent, or because they worry that their baby will be taken away from them. 

You can reassure them that many people have these experiences, and that they can get better. Here are some ways you can help: 

Make time for them 

You might want to offer to help your friend or family member, but worry that this is intruding on their private time. Or you may worry that they don’t feel able to ask for your support. 

But it’s always worth offering to help. There are a few ways you can do this: 

Offer to spend casual time with them 

Just having some company while getting on with daily tasks and looking after their baby can help them feel less isolated. 

Make time to keep in touch 

If your friend or family member is struggling with their mental health, it can make a big difference if they feel that you’re thinking of them and want to spend time together. 

Suggest activities that you used to do together 

Becoming a parent can make some people feel as if they’re losing touch with their previous identities. See if you can find things to do together that you did before they became a parent. 

Offer to go to parent-child groups or activities together 

This can help if your friend or family member feels nervous about going to a group on their own. 

Be patient 

These are some ideas for helping your friend or family member with their mental health, and being patient with them if they are struggling: 

Give them space 

Your friend or family member may feel guilty if they don’t have lots of time to spend with other people, or if they can’t reply to messages. You could let them know that they only need to see you or respond to you whenever they feel able. Or simply send them a message to tell them that you are thinking of them, but they don’t need to send a response. 

Learn about perinatal mental health 

If you’re worried about how to talk to them about their mental health, try reading the rest of these pages to learn more. You might then find it easier to talk about, especially if they’re finding it difficult to open up about how they feel. 

Listen to them 

Try to keep the focus on your friend or family member rather than coming back to your own feelings. Unless you have experienced being a new parent, it might not help to compare things to your own experiences. 

Don’t judge 

If they open up about distressing thoughts, try not to judge them. It’s likely to be very difficult for them to talk about these sorts of thoughts. Try to listen and offer support where possible. 

“It took at least a year for me to overcome my post natal depression, and nearly resulted in the breakdown of my relationship.” 

Offer practical support 

The best way to find out what your friend or family member needs is to ask them. But if they feel very low, they might find it difficult to make suggestions. You might want to offer to: 

  • do cleaning, laundry and other household tasks 
  • help to cook and do the shopping 
  • look after the baby, so your friend or family member can get some sleep or have some time for themselves. 

Support them to get help 

Your friend or family member might feel daunted about asking for help with their mental health or with parenting. They may worry that people will think they’re a bad parent. There are a few ways you can help with this: 

Offer to help them arrange a doctor’s appointment 

See our pages on helping someone else seek help for tips on how to provide this support. 

Go with them to appointments 

You could offer to look after their baby or older children while they go to appointments. Or you could help them plan what they’d like to talk about. 

Help them research different options for support 

This could include peer support groups or parenting groups. See our page on support and services or useful contacts for more information.

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

How can other people help?

How can other people help? 

This section is for family and friends who want to support someone experiencing a perinatal mental health problem. 

If your partner is pregnant or recently gave birth and you're worried about your own mental health during this time, see our page on partners' mental health. 

It might feel upsetting and frustrating if someone close to you is experiencing a perinatal mental health problem. But it's important not to blame them for how they are feeling. 

Some people who experience perinatal mental health problems might not want to ask for help. This may be out of fear that they are judged as a bad parent, or because they worry that their baby will be taken away from them. 

You can reassure them that many people have these experiences, and that they can get better. Here are some ways you can help: 

Make time for them 

You might want to offer to help your friend or family member, but worry that this is intruding on their private time. Or you may worry that they don't feel able to ask for your support. 

But it's always worth offering to help. There are a few ways you can do this: 

Offer to spend casual time with them 

Just having some company while getting on with daily tasks and looking after their baby can help them feel less isolated. 

Make time to keep in touch 

If your friend or family member is struggling with their mental health, it can make a big difference if they feel that you're thinking of them and want to spend time together. 

Suggest activities that you used to do together 

Becoming a parent can make some people feel as if they're losing touch with their previous identities. See if you can find things to do together that you did before they became a parent. 

Offer to go to parent-child groups or activities together 

This can help if your friend or family member feels nervous about going to a group on their own. 

Be patient 

These are some ideas for helping your friend or family member with their mental health, and being patient with them if they are struggling: 

Give them space 

Your friend or family member may feel guilty if they don't have lots of time to spend with other people, or if they can't reply to messages. You could let them know that they only need to see you or respond to you whenever they feel able. Or simply send them a message to tell them that you are thinking of them, but they don't need to send a response. 

Learn about perinatal mental health 

If you're worried about how to talk to them about their mental health, try reading the rest of these pages to learn more. You might then find it easier to talk about, especially if they're finding it difficult to open up about how they feel. 

Listen to them 

Try to keep the focus on your friend or family member rather than coming back to your own feelings. Unless you have experienced being a new parent, it might not help to compare things to your own experiences. 

Don't judge 

If they open up about distressing thoughts, try not to judge them. It's likely to be very difficult for them to talk about these sorts of thoughts. Try to listen and offer support where possible. 

"It took at least a year for me to overcome my post natal depression, and nearly resulted in the breakdown of my relationship." 

Offer practical support 

The best way to find out what your friend or family member needs is to ask them. But if they feel very low, they might find it difficult to make suggestions. You might want to offer to: 

  • do cleaning, laundry and other household tasks 
  • help to cook and do the shopping 
  • look after the baby, so your friend or family member can get some sleep or have some time for themselves. 

Support them to get help 

Your friend or family member might feel daunted about asking for help with their mental health or with parenting. They may worry that people will think they're a bad parent. There are a few ways you can help with this: 

Offer to help them arrange a doctor's appointment 

See our pages on helping someone else seek help for tips on how to provide this support. 

Go with them to appointments 

You could offer to look after their baby or older children while they go to appointments. Or you could help them plan what they'd like to talk about. 

Help them research different options for support 

This could include peer support groups or parenting groups. See our page on support and services or useful contacts for more information.