Women with Postpartum Psychiatric Illness: A Professionally Facilitated Support Group

Since the 1990s, many support groups for distressed new mothers have been established. Few of these groups have been described in the literature; most reports are of self-help groups. This paper describes the structure and benefits of an open ended, no fee, professionally facilitated support group established by the Duke Postpartum Support Program. The advantages of having a facilitator with mental health training in serving women with moderate to severe postpartum psychiatric illness are emphasized. Group problems are identified and the results of a satisfaction survey supportive of clinical impressions are included.