May is Mental Health Month and Maternal Mental Health Month, and the first Wednesday of May is World Maternal Mental Health Day.
We need to normalize maternal mental health issues because it is very common - 1 in 5 new mothers experiences some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMADs). Yet there is still a stigma associated with PMADs and moms are not always getting the support and attention they need. From personal experience, it's exhausting and overwhelming enough to not want to deal with it, especially when the day-to-day priority is feeding and taking care of the newborn (which is non-stop!). It's easier to not talk about it and not seek help - and this applies to everyone experiencing mental health issues. This is why it's important to check in on your loved ones and reach out, so they don't have to do so much work to dig out from the trenches when they're ready.
Postpartum Support International provided important resources for me when I was seeking help, and they are constantly expanding their resources. We are so happy to be able to make another donation to support their efforts this year. Thank you to all the Porpoise customers who helped us make this gift!
