Having a baby is the time in a woman’s life when she's most likely to experience mental health problems. Men can also be greatly impacted. This is why it's important to be aware of the signs of mental health distress and seek help early. The faster you get help, the faster you can recover.

Some signs of emotional and mental health distress may include:

• Feeling sad or down and finding it difficult to get through the day
• Experiencing no joy in life or your new baby
• Experiencing feelings anxiety or feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope
• Constant feelings of worry that something terrible might happen

We all have good days and bad days. However, if you've experienced all or any of the above for two weeks or more, and it's beginning to impact on your quality of life or ability to function from day to day, it could be a sign of anxiety and/or depression. 

These conditions are common, and it’s important to get help early, so you can take control of these feelings, and not let them take control of you. 

Remember, you're not alone. With the right support, you can feel like yourself again.

Talking to your GP, midwife or maternal and child health nurse is a great place to start, and there's also a dedicated registry of health professionals and support agencies who specialise in this area and understand the challenges you may be facing.