I and my fellow postpartum depression peer advocates are constantly being asked about postpartum depression resources for women of color. It’s very disappointing to me when I always have to respond with either none, or very few.
It’s not that African American women, or Latin American women or Asian American women don’t suffer just like everyone else, and cannot therefore benefit from the resources we already have here at Postpartum Progress. They do, and they can. However, many tell me it’s also important to them to see faces that look like their own on this site. To be able to talk to others who come from the same place they do culturally. I completely understand that.
This is something I’ve needed to do for a LOOOOOOOOOONG time. So, if you are or know someone who has survived a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder like postpartum depression and is also a woman of color, please contact me or have them contact me. They can send an email to postpartumprogress@gmail.com. We are going to create a special section here on the blog, with contributing writers and special resources.
I need your help to get this done. I tweeted about it on Twitter and so far have received no responses. But I’m not going to quit until a special advisory board is created and we get this done. Because it needs to be done, and we’re the people to do it. I appreciate your help in advance.
Feel free to get in touch; you featured my story before (#11 here: http://postpartumprogress.com/top-ten-writers-on-…
Only those who survived? I am surviving…
There wasn't an official diagnosis, but I knew something wasn't right with how I felt and acted. Depression, like so many forms of mental illness are normalized in our community, often goes untreated. More Black faces and culturally relevant resources would help ease us into the discussion. Thanks for asking!
I was diagnosed and went through treatment. I am a African American female who would also like to contribute. Check out some of my stories
No website here. But a long time follower. I'm an African American PPD survivor of PPOCD and anxiety. Throw in a dash of recent perinatal anxiety (sadly ended in miscarriage) and that's just a bit of my story. I was lucky to have the late and amazing Ilyene Barsky help me get through it the first time around. Let me know how I can help.
I sent you mail when I was in my darkest days, and you got me through those. I am south African woman of colour. The perception is the same if not worse in SA. I would definitely love to contribute. I will send you an e-mail.
Fantastic ladies! Thank you so much for reaching out to me. I will send all of you an email after Thanksgiving break and we will get started!
I'm excited!!! And so happy to see all of the responses