For moms struggling with postpartum depression, CT hotline is a lifeline

Connecticut Public Radio by Sujata Srinivasan, June 1, 2026 

Emma snuggled on her mother’s lap as she listened to Dr. Seuss’ “I am Cindy Lou-Who,” pointing at everything on the page – from Cindy’s gravity-defying hair to the teapot. They’re cozy on the floor with Emma’s toys scattered everywhere.

It’s a special moment for mom Emily Fields. The Fairfield County resident has come a long way over the past year-and-a-half.

Soon after Emma’s birth, Fields was unable to sleep. She struggled to eat. And she realized she couldn’t be around her little girl.

“So I called my mom and I was like ‘Can you come home? I don’t know what’s wrong,’” Fields said. “I was just anxious. The water’s up to here; I was just treading the water.”

Fields was on maternity leave as an elementary school teacher, but didn’t want to return to the classroom.

“I was like, I can’t be around any other children. I don’t even want to be around my own,” she said.

Fields was showing symptoms of postpartum depression — a common but serious mental health condition experienced by about 1 in 8 women after giving birth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms can include sadness, anxiety, guilt, worthlessness, a feeling of emptiness and suicidal ideation. Left untreated, it poses serious risk to mother and child.

Cases of anxiety and depression – including postpartum depression – are on the rise. But getting an appointment with a mental health provider can be an uphill battle given the shortage of providers in Connecticut. Connecticut meets less than a quarter of patient-psychiatrist ratios in mental health care deserts, according to independent data from the nonprofit Inseparable.

In response, the state is giving more front-line pregnancy and postpartum health care providers access to postpartum mental health care. By placing this access at the fingertips of a wider range of medical professionals – pediatricians, primary care physicians, OB-GYNs and psychiatrists – organizers hope to help more new mothers access psychiatric treatment.

At the center of this effort is a hotline staffed by superspecialists in postpartum mental health. And it’s become a lifeline for new mothers facing postpartum depression.

Read more at Connecticut Public Radio.