WellMama was started as a free Pregnancy-Postpartum Stress Support Group in 2007 in Eugene, OR, which was a volunteer extension of the Lane County Healthy Start Postpartum Depression Project. Later we began offering free Phone and Email Support to serve those unable to attend our support groups. In 2008, our first ten volunteers joined us. Today, WellMama has 16 volunteers. They are involved in providing Phone and Email support to women and families, and help with many other aspects of our services.

In 2009, WellMama added counseling/psychotherapy to its offerings. In addition to pregnancy and postpartum mental health, we also specialize in treating concerns related to other reproductive health issues, such as infertility, perinatal losses and adoption. Our treatment philosophy offers a balanced approach of psychotherapeutic interventions (we primarily use interpersonal, dialectic-behavioral and cognitive behavioral techniques), social support strategies, psychotropic medication management when indicated, and alternative/ natural approaches.

Our “one-stop-shop” model accommodates the whole spectrum of reproductive emotional and mental health concerns. Some of our clients only need one supportive phone conversation or resources emailed to them. Others attend our support groups for weeks or months, or use our counseling/ psychotherapy services. We also work with women whom we refer for psychiatric medication management or who need psychiatric hospitalization. In these cases we keep contact with both the providers and the client while she is in the hospital, and help coordinate a thorough follow-up plan, including both support services and mental health treatment.

Mission

Our mission is to provide information, support, counseling and advocacy to women who may be suffering from stress, overwhelm, isolation, depression, anxiety or other mental health concerns in relation to reproductive health related events, such as premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, infertility, perinatal losses or adoption. WellMama is dedicated to raising community awareness of Maternal and Reproductive Mental Health by providing resources and education on prevention, screening and appropriate treatment to women and the professionals who serve them.

Vision

Our vision at WellMama is for all women be educated about reproductive health related emotional and mental health concerns, and, specifically, for all pregnant and postpartum mothers in Oregon to be routinely educated about and screened for Perinatal (pregnancy and postpartum) Mood, Anxiety and Psychotic Disorders (PMAPDs). In addition, we envision that all healthcare and social service providers who serve perinatal families in Oregon will have adequate information and resources about prevention, screening and diagnosis of reproductive health related Mood, Anxiety and Psychotic Disorders (PMAPDs), and that they will link affected mothers and their families with appropriate evidence based treatment and social support in a timely manner.

Volunteers

WellMama is fortunate to have several well trained volunteers who provide phone and email support to women and their family or other support persons. Our dedicated volunteers also play a vital role in community outreach, professional networking, administrative and website help.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Amy-Rose White to learn about various opportunities. We would love to have you be part of our dedicated group!