September is Suicide Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness of maternal suicide risk and reaffirm our commitment to improving the recognition and treatment of perinatal mental health disorders while addressing suicide risk across the reproductive life cycle.
A note from the Director of the Center for Women’s Mental Health at MGH: “In the following video message, I share some thoughts on the importance of sustained focus on reducing the extent to which this tragedy still occurs.”
“Maternal Suicide Awareness Month has been an opportunity to set goals as a field and as a community … we need to support moms and families as they are recovering from postpartum psychiatric illness and see that there are systems in place to follow the progress of women who get treatment for postpartum psychiatric illness.”
— Dr. Lee Cohen, Director, MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health
If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Help is available.
Emergency Resources
988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If an individual is in an immediate crisis, e.g., in imminent danger of harm to self, others, or has overdosed, they should call 911. If they have an immediate mental health crisis, they should contact 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress and can provide information on prevention and crisis resources.
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262): For non-crisis specialized perinatal mental health support and resources. The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is available 24/7, in English and Spanish, and 60 other languages by request, staffed by professional counselors, and refers to specialist perinatal mental health providers. It is not a “crisis line” for individuals in imminent danger of harm to self or others. The Maternal Mental Health Hotline Counselors can transfer callers to 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, as well as to the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the Disaster Distress Hotline, when needed.
The Postpartum Support International Helpline 800-944-4773 is a warmline that connects callers with support volunteers and PSI resources, including support groups. Those seeking help can leave a message by voice or text in English or Spanish and the Helpline responds within a few hours, during business hours. The PSI website, www.postpartum.net, provides information and resources, including lists of mental health providers and connections to online support groups.
Other resources can be found on our RESOURCES page.
