PORTLAND, Oregon — May is Maternal Mental Health Month, and a Portland organization is raising awareness about the importance of mental health.
Angie Fitzpatrick recalled when there were some days where she couldn't really do anything.
"I was super depressed. I cried all the time. I really couldn't function," Fitzpatrick said, adding that while she was smiling on the outside, on the inside, she couldn't bear the pain.
"I couldn't really deal with life. It was really a big struggle even to take care of the baby," she continued.
Fitzpatrick, who had postpartum depression, sought help from her doctor.
"She gave me the Baby Blues number and I reached out and then I started on my healing journey," she said.
The Baby Blues Connection supports parents and their families coping with pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders. The nonprofit helped Fitzpatrick after her first pregnancy and when she was pregnant with her second child.
Fitzpatrick is now the executive director of the organization.
"With the birth of my daughter, I had high, high anxiety. I had a miscarriage between my children, so the whole time I was pregnant with my daughter, I was just over-the-top anxious — I mean, debilitating," recalled Fitzpatrick.
According to Oregon.gov, Fitzpatrick is not alone with everything she went through: 1 in 4 Oregon women report symptoms of depression during or after pregnancy, and at least half of the cases are never diagnosed.
Fitzpatrick says having support to help you get through the tough times can be life changing.
"Having someone to reach out to when you're struggling is just invaluable — to really have someone say, 'I understand, and there's no judgment for what you're experiencing because I have felt that way, too,'" said Fitzpatrick.
Baby Blues Connection is celebrating 30 years and helping those who struggle.
Some of their tips include:
- Don't be afraid to reach out to family and friends.
- Take some time for self-care.
- Try to get as much sleep as possible.
They also want everyone to know it's okay to not be okay.
"There is such a high stigma just around mental health in general, especially when you just had a baby and you're supposed to be joyful, and everything is lovely — for a lot of people, it is. But for those people, it's not, we really want you to know that we're here for you," Fitzpatrick said.