Better Beginnings Program

One year ago today, one of our moms walked through our doors carrying overwhelming shame, fear, and uncertainty about the future. She wasn’t sure recovery was even possible for her.

Today, she’s rebuilding relationships, showing up for herself and her children, and creating a life she once thought was out of reach.

Recovery rarely happens all at once. It happens in quiet moments:
🤍 Asking for help
🤍 Showing up
🤍 Trying again after hard days
🤍 Choosing healing one step at a time

May all of these moments light the way ✨

We walk alongside mothers as they rediscover their strength, worth, and hope.

Healing from mental health and substance use issues is not just the absence of symptoms. It is a stable home, meaningful connection, and the tools to move forward. That is the promise of whole-person care. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-support

May is —a great time to check in on yourself & your loved ones. If you or someone you know needs help, confidential support & treatment options are available.

💚 Help yourself & share to help others: samhsa.gov/find-help

Is it the baby blues, PPD, or PPA? 💭

Maternal mental health doesn’t look just one way, and symptoms can show up anytime during pregnancy or postpartum.

What you’re feeling might be:
• Baby Blues
• Depression
• Anxiety
✳️ Perinatal Mental Health Disorders also include OCD, bipolar mood disorders, PTSD, and psychosis. ✳️

The Baby Blues are short-term dips in mood caused by the changes of having a baby, and typically dissipate on their own. Depression and anxiety are common, temporary, and treatable, but they do require support.

Too often, parents experience symptoms like: irritability, racing thoughts, guilt, sadness, intrusive thoughts, or constant worry… and don’t realize there’s a name for it.

When we connect the dots, we make maternal mental health visible.
And when it’s visible, it becomes treatable, supportable, and understood.

💙 If you see yourself in this, you are not alone
💙 If you recognize this in someone else, check in

🔵 Visit Postpartum.net/bluedot to donate, support our MMH Month campaign, or get help today.

📞 PSI HelpLine: 800-944-4773
📞 National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-852-6262
📲 Download the Connect by PSI App
🔗 Visit Postpartum.net for programs and resources
🔗 Donate here: https://loom.ly/d6pRLec

Did you know that spending even a short time out in nature can boost mood, focus and creativity? Join Thriving Mamas tomorrow, Thursday the 28th, for a relaxing nature walk and conversation in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month! We will meet at the pavilion at Palatine Park at 5:30pm.

Sign up here! https://forms.gle/cKghoTXJcEAebRRx5

Please use caution if cleaning up floodwater. Call us at (304) 623-9308 if you need an updated TDAP (Tetanus) shot.

https://www.epa.gov/emergencies-iaq/learn-about-floods-and-indoor-air-quality

Can you believe we are already at the end of May?! Time sure flies!

Take advantage of Free Ride Friday on the last Friday of the month. 📆

May isn't over yet! There is still time to shine a light on the emotional challenges that can affect mothers during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

For many women, maternal mental health struggles include substance use disorder (SUD), which is often rooted in trauma, stigma, and unmet mental health needs. Too often, mothers are met with judgment rather than compassion, creating barriers to treatment, recovery, and support.

Better Beginnings believes that every mother deserves the opportunity to be met with respect and compassion, receive the comprehensive care she needs, bond with her baby, and build a healthier future for her family one step at a time.

This Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, we encourage our community to replace stigma with empathy and to recognize that supporting mothers in recovery supports generations to come.

You are not alone. Help is available. Healing is possible. 💙

Another FREE opportunity to learn more about Child Development. Please see details on the flier about registration and questions.