Finding Support Groups for Pregnant Women with Depression
“Nobody told me pregnancy would feel like this.” If you’ve been thinking that recently, know you’re not the only one. Everyone seems to focus on the scan photos or the upcoming baby shower, but many pregnant women are silently battling a rollercoaster of emotions. Mood swings, anxiety, and heavy sadness are much more common than people realize. And depression during pregnancy is scarily common.
The good news is that mental health support for pregnant women is available. Support groups for pregnant women with depression offer you a space to share, listen, and start to feel like yourself again.
Connecting with others who understand what you’re going through can help you feel less alone. These groups also present the opportunity for advice, validation, and a sense of community. Whether you are struggling with daily life, dealing with deep emotions, or just looking for someone to talk to who ‘gets it’, support is out there and can make a world of difference.
On this page, we’ll explore:
- Why group support for perinatal mental health is so important
- Types of support groups available
- How to find a support group for perinatal depression
- What to expect in a support group
- Benefits of joining a group
- How to seek professional support
Why Does Group Support for Perinatal Mental Health Matter?
When you think of depression treatment you may only think of two possibilities: Medication or therapy. These are both effective treatments, but there are also other options available, such as support groups.
Support groups for pregnant women with depression provide a safe space for you to connect with other people who can really understand your experience. When you are surrounded by people who are in the same boat as you are, you feel less alone in your struggles. Support groups show there are ways of coping with perinatal depression together. The practical suggestions, sense of belonging, and emotional support you find within these groups can be vital for your recovery.
But know that a support group doesn’t have to be a stand-alone treatment. Treatment options can be combined, and although support groups may be a treatment recommendation on their own for mild depression, they can also be combined with other treatments, like medication or in-person or virtual therapy.
You might be wondering if support groups actually make a difference to depression. Well, researchers have consistently found that telephone-based peer support, as well as face-to-face groups, can be effective in preventing postnatal depression and improving the mother’s wellbeing.2-4
If you’re struggling with perinatal depression, support groups can be a great social way to help you cope. Let’s look at the different types of groups you may come across in more detail next.
Types of Support Groups for Pregnant Women With Depression
Groups can provide emotional support and a whole lot more to pregnant women and new mothers. There are two main types of support groups:
- Peer-led, and
- Therapist-facilitated
But what are the differences, and how do you know which one may better suit your needs? Let’s look at each of them below.
1. Peer-Led Support Groups
Peer-led groups are usually run by charities or non-profit organizations, and facilitated by individuals who have their own lived experience. In the case of perinatal depression support groups, this is likely to be someone who has experienced either prenatal or postpartum depression.
Postpartum mental health group support in this setting is fairly informal. It’s not like turning up for a therapy session. Think of it more like having a coffee morning catch-up – a place to share your stories and any tips or advice you have for challenges that others may face.
The facilitator will oversee things to make sure you don’t stray too far from the topic and that the space remains safe and supportive.
2. Therapist Facilitated Groups
Perinatal depression group therapy is often run by hospitals, therapy centers, or maternal health programs. They will be led by a licensed therapist, and you’ll find it is a much more structured setting than peer-led groups.
The structure will be around a particular therapeutic approach, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to make sure that the group remains a focused treatment experience. The facilitator will lead the group, guide the sessions, provide psychoeducation, and ensure that the group remains a safe and supportive environment for everyone.
Online vs In-Person Group Support
Group settings aren’t just in-person anymore. In recent years, they have had an increasing online presence as people become more comfortable using video-call software on their computers or phones. There are pros and cons to attending groups online or in person.
If you join an in-person group, you are more likely to meet people and make new friends from your local area. This means you may get some insider info about local services that you didn’t know about. There’s also something about physically being in a supportive atmosphere that just can’t be replicated online.
However, face-to-face groups mean you may have to think about travel time, childcare, and whether you feel physically well enough to leave your home (morning sickness sadly doesn’t just happen in the morning).
Online groups allow you to attend at a time to suit you. You don’t even need to get out of your pajamas if you don’t want to, you could do a voice call rather than turning your video on. Online therapy groups for new mothers can feel like a gift: You can attend a group in the comfort of your living room, without needing to worry about how things are going without you at home with your baby.
However, the one downside is that you don’t get the same feeling as when you are physically in a room with other people. Also, there might be time delays or video glitches that could feel disruptive. And it all relies on you having access to and feeling comfortable using video technology, which not everybody does.
Finding a Support Group
So, you’re interested in joining a support group, but how do you find one? Here are some tips:
Ask Around
One way to find local support groups for pregnant women is to ask the healthcare professionals you may be in contact with. You could ask your doctor, your midwife, or your OB-GYN if they can provide recommendations for support groups for pregnant women with depression in the local community or online.
Another place to try is your local maternal mental health service. They will have many mental health resources for expecting mothers and should be able to help you.
Online Directories
An additional way to find a group is to search online with well-known and respected organizations, such as Postpartum Support International (PSI). Online directories will often have listings for virtual support groups, including details of dates, times, and how to register.
Community Resources
If you’re looking for something local, then check with your hospital about community support for pregnancy mental health. If you have a community center nearby, pop in and see if there are any notices up for groups. You’d be surprised at the variety of events they hold in centers, and you may find something else that catches your eye too.
Online Platforms
You can also consider looking at online platforms for support groups. Some social media platforms host casual chat groups offering support for new parents.
Other Considerations
When finding support for pregnancy depression, it’s good to think about what type of support you are looking for. Consider whether you are looking for:
- Peer-led or therapist-facilitated
- Educational or emotional support
- Structured or informal meetings
- In-person or online help
- Large or small group sizes
- Days and times you can make meetings
There are many different options to explore, and ultimately it comes down to personal preferences. Support groups may be useful on their own if your depression symptoms are mild, but the results and benefits can be enhanced when paired with individual therapy or medication. If you have doubts about taking medication during pregnancy, you may want to check out our resource on antidepressant safety during pregnancy.
What to Expect in Support Groups
We know that walking into a room full of strangers can feel daunting. That’s why we’ve got the 411 on what to expect from support groups.
How long do they last?
Support groups for pregnant women with depression tend to last between 60 and 90 minutes.
What do they talk about?
Perinatal or postpartum depression support groups will usually begin by discussing confidentiality and giving introductions. Depending on the type of group you are attending, the topics may vary.
If it’s educational, then the first part of the group may be spent learning new techniques to help tackle depression, followed by talk time where you can share your experiences with the rest of the group.
If it’s a more informal group setting, you may dive into the talking straight away. You can share your personal experiences, talk about your feelings and concerns, share coping techniques, or talk about anything else that may be helpful.
Is it confidential?
Yes. A group peer support for postpartum depression should be able to provide you with terms of confidentiality, and everyone in the group will need to agree that what’s said in the room stays in the room. However, there is the possibility that someone won’t play by the rules. You have to consider that someone may either intentionally or accidentally share something that’s discussed in the group with people outside of it.
Do I have to talk?
No, you do not have to talk, especially if it’s your first time. You may want to introduce yourself if there’s a general check-in, so that people know who you are, but you don’t have to share anything. You can learn a lot from what other people discuss. It may be that you don’t say much until you feel more comfortable in this new group.
Joining a depression support group during pregnancy can provide you with emotional support and validation of your experience. However, support groups aren’t a replacement for therapy. Individual therapy gives you one-to-one personal support that is designed specifically to help you with your challenges. If you want to learn more, check out our page explaining the best therapy options for perinatal mental health.
Benefits of Emotional Support Groups for Pregnant Women
A comforting and consoling environment for moms- Reduces isolation and loneliness
- Brings a sense of belonging and connection
- Validates your experiences
- Discover practical advice, skills, and coping strategies
- Reignites hope
- Gives you a safe space to vent your feelings
- Helps manage perinatal depression5
Seek Support for Perinatal Depression
Perinatal depression can leave you feeling hopeless, but remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel. You are not alone on your journey to motherhood: support is available, and recovery is possible with the right treatment.
At Mission Connection, our team of experts in perinatal mental health is here to help you. We work with you to create an individualized treatment plan to help you recover. Whether you are interested in support groups, medication management, individual therapy, virtual treatment options, or a residential support package, we will create a plan that fits into your schedule and works for you.
Take the first step toward recovery today. Contact us today to discover how we will support you and help you to heal.
References
- Postpartum Support International. (2025, March 18). About perinatal mental health. https://postpartum.net/perinatal-mental-health/
- Dennis, C., Hodnett, E., Kenton, L., Weston, J., Zupancic, J., Stewart, D. E., & Kiss, A. (2009). Effect of peer support on prevention of postnatal depression among high risk women: multisite randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 338(jan15 2), a3064. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a3064
- Kamalifard, M., Yavarikia, P., Kheiroddin, J. B., Pourmehr, H. S., & Iranagh, R. I. (2013). The effect of peers support on postpartum depression: a single-blind randomized clinical trial. DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals). https://doi.org/10.5681/jcs.2013.029
- Aylward, P., & Williams, A. S. (2023). Holistic community-based group parenting programs for mothers with maternal mental health issues help address a growing public health need for a diversity of vulnerable mothers, children and families: Findings from an action research study. Frontiers in Global Women S Health, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2022.1039527
- Fang, Q., Lin, L., Chen, Q., Yuan, Y., Wang, S., Zhang, Y., Liu, T., Cheng, H., & Tian, L. (2021). Effect of peer support intervention on perinatal depression: A meta-analysis. General Hospital Psychiatry, 74, 78–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.12.001
