Postpartum Help-Seeking: The Role of Stigma and Mental Health Literacy

Background Postpartum depression is the most common complication associated with child-bearing. The current study investigated attitudes toward professional psychological help-seeking and the effects of stigma and mental health literacy on postpartum women recruited from social media (N = 326). Method Hierarchical linear regression was used to analyze the data and the interaction effect of stigma and mental health literacy. Results Stigma was negatively associated with attitudes toward professional psychological help-seeking, while mental health literacy was positively associated with attitudes toward professional psychological help-seeking. The interaction effect was not statistically significant. The results yield implications for screening practices and reducing stigma for mental health care in the postpartum period.