Moms: DPHHS support available during Maternal Mental Health Month and all year long
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MONTANA — In recognition of Maternal Mental Health Month in May, the Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) reminds mothers that the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides free, confidential assistance before, during, and after pregnancy.
“In Montana, one in five women experience depression during pregnancy, and 13.5% experience postpartum depression,” said Mandi Zanto, Title V Director at the DPHHS Early Childhood and Family Support Division. “The hotline helps women know they are not alone. There is support and hope by calling 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) any time of the day or night.”
The hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to individuals before, during, and after pregnancy. Those who contact the hotline can receive a range of support, including brief interventions from cultural and trauma-informed counselors, evidence-based information, and referrals to community-based and telehealth providers, support groups, and other community resources.
Officials say most help-seekers contact the hotline for their own support, often citing anxiety, depression, and feelings of being overwhelmed with daily stressors and parental demands. Over half of individuals seeking help for themselves reported being in the postpartum period.
“As we recognize May as National Mental Health Awareness Month, it is important to connect individuals with the support they need, and this hotline is a valuable resource,” Zanto said. “It is especially helpful for rural Montanans where access to obstetric and mental health care is limited.”
The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau administers the hotline, which is operated by Postpartum Support International.
The hotline is staffed with experienced mental health providers, maternal health providers, certified doulas, and peer support specialists who are all specially trained. The hotline is not intended as an emergency response line, and individuals in behavioral health crisis should continue to contact Montana’s Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8. To learn more about maternal mental health resources in Montana, visit dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/moms/index.
