For as long as women have been giving birth to babies, Postpartum Depression has taken a kick at their minds, bodies and spirits. While having a consistent support system provides outside support, it is the lack of strength from within that defeats us.
Just hours after giving birth, high hormone levels plummet. As a result, new mothers experience feelings of chaos, disorganization and helplessness.

In 2020, COVID-19 affected the world in ways many never could’ve imagined. All over the world, there was a drastic increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety for postnatal and postpartum mothers.  I was one of the many new mothers confined to their homes by strict curfew with triplets. At times, I thought it would be best to drop my babies at a Fire Department in my community because I felt I was unfit, and noticed I was not alone with those feelings.

During the pandemic, there were multiple reports of mothers giving up their infants, harming themselves or their child. While many considered these mothers “horrific human beings” and/or “undeserving of parenthood”, the truth is, these mothers were struggling to cope and truly needed support, like I did.

It is clear that there is power in advocacy and support, but what new mothers would mostly benefit from is the guidance of psychologists. The difference in a healthy mind versus an unhealthy mind in mothers, is having a qualified individual capable of helping us to be the best parents we can be for those who depend on us.

This petition hopes to acknowledge & address postpartum depression head-on, as it requests hospitals to require mothers to schedule a minimum of 5 therapy sessions, covered by insurance, prior to discharge.