Where to Start

Talk to your doctor, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or a counselor who is familiar with maternal mental illness and who has experience treating these illnesses.

You can start with our Resources page for local healthcare providers who specialize and have experience in this area.

If you’re still not ready to reach out, consider a screening tool for an objective perspective. We recommend the Edinburgh Screening Tool to help you assess whether you are experiencing postpartum depression or anxiety.

You were never meant to do this alone.

Connection is so powerful, and being in a room with other moms who get it – who have felt the same fear, the same exhaustion, the same love – that can create a real shift for anyone that is struggling.

Postpartum Support Charleston offers a range of ways to find connection. We offer low-pressure village meetups to structured spaces with clinical support and so much in between. There is something here for you.

Explore all of our offerings and find the space that feels right for you.

Antidepressants can be an effective part of treating postpartum depression, and taking them does not make you weak or a failure. For many moms, medication is the thing that makes everything else possible.

If your doctor prescribes medication, give it time. If symptoms persist after two weeks or new ones develop, go back. You may simply need a different dosage or a different medication. Not every prescription works the same for every person, and finding the right fit is part of the process.

If you have concerns about breastfeeding or pregnancy, talk to your doctor. Safe options exist. And if you don’t feel confident in the guidance you’re receiving, you have every right to seek a second opinion.