Having helpful family members and friends can make recovering from PND easier. While relatives and friends won't be able to make the woman's PND go away, offering support can be helpful. Here are some suggestions for ways to provide support.

• Learn about postnatal depression.
• Encourage the new mum to seek professional help. 
• Spend time listening, without feeling the need to offer solutions.
• Offer to spend time looking after the baby or older children or discuss other childcare options so the mum can have time out.
• Offer to help with housework like cooking and cleaning. 
• Let the woman know how well she is doing when she makes small gains. 
• Encourage the woman to use some self-help strategies - refer to beyondblue Fact sheet 10 - Changing your thinking
• Recognise that anxiety may be present too. Like depression, anxiety is also treatable.

As a woman recovers from PND, the level of support she needs may change. It's important that family members and friends take their cues from her and try to adapt.

Advice for Partners

Partners of women with PND are sometimes forgotten. It's a very stressful time for partners and one in which they may also be at risk of becoming depressed. It is really important that partners look after themselves during this difficult period and maintain their own mental health.

• Remember that PND is treatable.
• Talking honestly about feelings to someone like a friend, family member or a psychologist can help.
• Plan some time together as a couple and try to do something that both partners have always enjoyed.
• Get involved in any support groups offered for partners and discuss feelings.
• Accept offers of help or organise for someone to help with meals, housework and the children.
• Encourage your partner to see a health professional.
• Offer to arrange for your partner to see a health professional and go along to the session with her. 
• Offer to help your partner around the house. 
• Expect that a woman with PND can be moody, irritable, volatile, teary and withdrawn. Try not to take what she says as a personal attack.
• Understand that your partner may not want to be close or intimate. It is common for a woman with PND to be withdrawn and less interested in sex because she may be overwhelmed, exhausted and not feeling good about herself.
• Live life one day at a time!

For more information on caring for someone with PND see beyondblue Fact Sheet 1 - How can you help someone with depression? and beyondblue Fact Sheet 2 - Living with and caring for a person with depression

Getting help if someone is suicidal

If a person is suicidal you should: 

• let a doctor know the person is feeling suicidal (either GP or psychiatrist)
• take the person to a local public hospital 
• contact a local Crisis Team 
• contact a trusted friend or family member
• telephone a counselling service: 
  • Lifeline - 13 11 14
  • Mensline - 1300 789 978
  • Suicide Helpline - 1300 651 251 (Victoria only - 24 hour counselling) 
  • Kids Help Line - 1800 55 1800 (free call).

For more information see beyondblue Information Pack for Carers, Families and Friends of those with Postnatal Depression.