Post partum depression is a deep and dark condition that causes severe suffering. It's a condition many women try to hide and smile away from and a condition few women receive help for. We have lost so many lives  due to being untreated for PPD. The health care industry needs to step up and provide support for women, not just before they leave the hospital after delivery, but for an extended period of time after. A 6 week check up is not enough. At 6 weeks you're hardly capable of functioning due to the exhaustion and adjustment to having a new baby at home, not to mention healing from delivery. PPD can rear it's head months or even years later, and women need to know they are still able to get help. Despite social status, insurance coverage, race, age, sexuality.

Domestic violence shelters need direct lines of contact to mental health care facilities for women seeking asylum with babies and young children. There needs to be a 3 year MINIMUM of mental health care access to women post birth. There are too many women suffering alone, suffering quietly, and suffering for far too long. You shouldn't need money to know that your life matters. 

If we do not focus our attention on helping women suffering from PPD, children will continue to lose their mothers. Families will continue to lose their loved ones. This NEEDS to change. And it needs to change now.