Northland March for Moms and Dads to highlight perinatal mental health

VIRGINIA — May is Maternal Mental Health Month, and St. Louis County Public Health is highlighting resources available for new and expectant parents who may be struggling.

A special “Northland March for Moms and Dads” is planned to raise awareness and bring participants together to support one another. The march will be 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at Olcott Park in Virginia. Participants are encouraged to wear white to represent survivorship, support and community for perinatal mental health.

In a news release, the county reported that experiencing depression and anxiety during the perinatal period — defined as the time spanning from when pregnancy begins, through labor and delivery, to approximately a year after birth — is more common than people may realize.

Studies have shown one in five moms and one in 10 dads may struggle with mental health during this important time in their lives. Maternal mental health conditions are the most common complication of pregnancy and birth, affecting 800,000 families each year in the U.S.

"Having a baby is wonderful and amazing, but it's also exhausting and stressful," stated Kelly Lind, a public health nurse and supervisor for St. Louis County, in the release. "Our goal with this campaign is to make it easier for new parents to find the support they need, and make it clear that it's okay ask for help."

To help reduce stigma and connect families with the help they need, St. Louis County Public Health launched a new campaign to remind parents that they are not alone and that help is available. The signs and flyers direct people to a new website, northlandperinatalresources.org.

The website, created with local partners who work to support families, includes links to both local and national support options, as well as education for providers who are looking to learn more.

It also includes two important numbers: 1-833-TLC-MAMA is a free and confidential hotline that connects to a counselor 24 hours a day, and the 988 hotline for anyone needing immediate support for emotional or mental health.