It is not uncommon for new or expectant parents to suffer from depression or even severe anxiety in connection with childbirth, and around one in ten mothers get some form of depression, a study at the Uppsala Academy Hospital shows.

- I panicked about being alone with my children for a minute, so during the days I used to take the help of my grandmother and grandfather. But today there is not that possibility, says Mikaela Björkman, who has previously gone through a birth depression.

The corona crisis creates many worrying factors

Isolation was a major risk factor for postpartum depression even before covid-19 spread in Sweden, and not being able to meet his family to the same extent can be particularly difficult for new parents.

- You may be worried yourself about being infected or afraid of infecting your baby. That is why it is so important that you talk to someone, says Karin Cupido Eriksson, co-founder and initiator of the non-profit organization Mamma till Mamma, which has its headquarters in Western Sweden.

The organization also believes that the increased care queues during the corona crisis can lead to parents not getting the help they need on time.

- Depressed parents find it harder to connect with their child, which can affect the child's life for a long time to come. So we do not take care of birth-depressed parents now it will cost dearly, says Mikaela Björkman.

Arming themselves so that more people need help

Mikaela Björkman and Karin Cupido Eriksson co-founded Mamma till Mamma, which tries to reach out and support parents who are affected by mental illness in connection with the birth of a child. Together with their "fellow moms" they now prepare themselves for increased pressure.

- We see that more people are contacting us with concerns about covid-19 and are therefore starting a new chat function and have digital mother circles. We are meant to be a complement to healthcare and encourage anyone who feels depressed to seek help early, ”says Karin Cupido Eriksson.