Postpartum depression: where to ask for free help

Postpartum depression may appear in the weeks or months after birth. The reasons can be many: hormonal changes, past personal experiences, but also a lack of support, isolation or cultural pressures about what it means to be a 'good mother'. Get help as soon as you notice that sadness or anxiety has been going on for days, interfering with sleep, appetite, or the ability to take care of yourself and your boy or girl. Don't wait for it to “pass by itself”: postpartum depression is cured, and the sooner you ask for help, the easier it is to get back to being well. Where to ask for help: - Family counselors: free individual or group interviews for parents in the first months after birth.- Midwife, gynecologist, referring pediatrician and general practitioner: they can refer you to territorial services or activate psychological support paths.- Dedicated hospital services: many birth centers have perinatal mental health clinics or listening desks.