Support and patience from partner, family and friends is often identified by women with perinatal depression and anxiety as the most crucial factor in their recovery. Being part of a support group or supported playgroup with other families living with perinatal depression and anxiety can be central to recovery as well.

Knowing how to help the mother with perinatal depression and anxiety can be the most difficult aspect as she may be angrily denying that she needs help, she may not be able to say what would be helpful or you may be worried that your help is the wrong kind.  Much will depend on how the depression and anxiety is impacting on her. Support can be practical in the house or with the baby/children, or it can be emotional and social support.

Partners particularly are in the firing line and often feel that they cannot do anything right.  It is important for him to have support and not to take her responses too personally.

Building the woman's options for support in addition to her partner and family can help to share the support.  Encouraging the woman to be a part of a new mother's group or supported postnatal depression therapeutic or playgroup will help to build her support networks.  She will need a range of people around her to talk to or to seek support from, not just her partner or family.