Life after perinatal mental illness

Mental health issues during pregnancy or following birth can be distressing. You may feel like you will never overcome it. You can and you will.

Talk about your experience

It is very important and helpful to talk about it with your wife, partner or girfriend after it has happened.

Talking about how you were each affected can be very healing. Dismissing or avoiding the subject only increases the guilt and stigma.

It may take months to be able to talk about the experience without feeling distressed. Sharing these conversations shows love and understanding.

Your relationship​ has some good tips and advice, as does Managing relationships.​

Hear one family's journey through perinatal mental illness from the dad's perspective.

Having another baby?

If you would like to have more children, talk with your partner.

Get advice from their perinatal psychiatrist or mental health clinician. Ask them about preconception counselling and planning options.

Consider what can reduce the risk of mental health issues happening again. This could be:

  • getting support from friends and family
  • using prescribed medication or other therapies
  • managing symptoms to prevent it happening again.

For more information, refer to APP - Planning pregnancy: a guide for women at high risk of Postpartum Psychosis.

This guide relates to psychosis and prior perinatal mental health issues. It also has lots of advice about planning a pregnancy.

Not having another baby?

If you don’t want to have more children make sure you have reliable contraception. You can also visit a Family Planning NSW clinic.

​​Although this resource is aimed at dads, the information is helpful for all new parents and carers regardless of gender, who are coping with perinatal mental illness.


Current as at: Tuesday 15 November 2022
Contact page owner: Mental Health