STL program is helping new moms with mental health issues

STL program is helping new moms with mental health issues

When a baby is welcomed into a family, most expect the new mother to be excited and joyful for this new addition. However, it’s important to realize that women experience significant changes in their moods during the perinatal period (pregnancy and postpartum), often with increases in anxiety levels due to natural hormonal changes and the stress that accompanies preparing to have a baby.

While many moms can be supported during this time by family and friends alone, in some cases it can be more severe. In response to this common life circumstance, Mercy seeks to support these women in our Mother-Baby Intensive Outpatient Behavioral Health program setting. We hear from women in this program that they feel alone, ashamed and isolated with their experiences. So often in the media, pregnancy and postpartum is portrayed as a time of joy, happiness and bonding with their new baby. Moms who don’t feel this way may blame themselves for experiencing such distressing feelings of shame, inadequacy, guilt and embarrassment.







Tired Asian mother suffering from experiencing postnatal depression. Healthcare single mom motherhood stressful.

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Such experiences can lead women to withdraw and isolate further from friends, family or medical providers and become reluctant to share about their struggles. This only serves to intensify their sense of isolation.

Programs such as the Mercy Mother-Baby IOP provide a comfortable place for mothers to connect with other mothers experiencing similar struggles in a safe, honest and supportive way. Mothers have the opportunity to reduce feelings of isolation with genuine connection and validation to help cope with the challenges of pregnancy and postpartum. Women can receive support from other group members, a licensed mental health clinician specializing in this area of care, a psychiatric nurse and a psychiatric nurse practitioner to prescribe medication, if needed.







Unrecognizable person touches a mother's shoulder

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In this treatment setting, women can learn coping skills to manage distressing feelings, challenge their unhelpful thought patterns and practice infant soothing and bonding skills. The program assists women with cultivating a support system both in and out of the treatment environment to allow them the time and energy necessary to heal, recover and grow in their confidence and sense of competence as a mother. Moms can bring their newborns with them (up to 12 months of age), but the program does not offer formal childcare. To access these services, contact Mercy Behavioral Health Intake at 314-251-0555 and schedule an initial evaluation for the Mother-Baby IOP.

Molly Dwyer-Simonsen, MA, LPC, is Mercy regional director of outpatient behavioral health. For more information, please visit mercy.net/laduenews.

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