248: Challenges of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety in a Rural Community

Having a perinatal mood disorder is challenging on its own, but it becomes even more difficult in rural communities where the right resources are not readily accessible. In addition, rural areas are made up of small communities where everyone knows everyone else’s business, which further stigmatizes anyone seeking mental health resources. My guest shares her experiences and explains how she found the help she needed. Join us!

Hannah Helms is a spouse, trauma therapist, and mother of three. She currently lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. She experienced perinatal and postpartum anxiety following the birth of her third child in 2018. At the time, she lived and worked in her northern California hometown, and she faced the unique challenges of trying to seek treatment in a rural community. 

Show Highlights:

How Hannah’s story begins with life in her rural hometown and her first pregnancy in 2014–followed quickly by a second pregnancy and children only 15 months apart

How Hannah looks back with more understanding about the postpartum rage she felt in those days—but she didn’t know what to call it

How Hannah attempted to get counseling, but the therapist had no clue about postpartum issues

How Hannah dealt with her third pregnancy in the middle of her MSW program while working full time and being a mom to two toddlers

Why social work in a rural community is more challenging than in other places

How panic attacks began to occur for Hannah as her anxiety became more severe

How Hannah began weekly visits with her primary care provider after her third child was born

How Hannah found the help she needed through a telehealth therapist

How her family culture and rural culture contributed to the bias she felt about mental health help

How “spiritual bypassing” plays into mental health issues, especially in more rural areas

How Hannah has learned a lot about PMADs AFTER her third pregnancy–because there is more awareness, more screenings available, and she knows better now

How we can do better in offering peer support and eliminating barriers

What Hannah thinks we should do in rural communities to increase awareness of PMADs

What people in rural communities can do when there aren’t qualified mental health professionals in their towns

How Hannah found help, healing, and self-compassion–and how we can offer more help to others

Resources:

Connect with Hannah on Instagram

Visit www.postpartum.net for resources!

Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.  

Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

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