ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – UW Health is part of a new statewide initiative launching this month to strengthen mental health support for mothers during and after pregnancy.
The Perinatal Mental Health initiative will equip doctors, nurses and medical providers with updated toolkits to help them better recognize signs of postpartum depression, anxiety and other concerns. The goal is to ensure patients are connected to the right support, early and effectively.
UW Health is also participating in the national Blue Dot Project, which promotes awareness and helps reduce the stigma tied to maternal mental health challenges.
“We recognize that we need to have more resources,” said Courtney Fisk, education coordinator at the Women and Children’s Hospital. “We need to be more aware, both in the hospital and out in the community, and our patients need to know that there doesn’t need to be a stigma behind mental health. If they’re struggling, we have resources to help.”
In Winnebago and Boone counties, services such as Brightpoint Post Crisis Nursery and Remedies Renewing Lives offer critical help from counseling and crisis care. You can also call or text the Illinois Department of Human Services 988 Suicide Hotline for 24/7 service for patients who need to talk with someone.
Here’s a support group for mothers dealing with maternal mental health: Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
Copyright 2025 WIFR. All rights reserved.