M.L. postpartum group focuses on support, advocacy

Apr 3, 2018 | 3:00 PM

If Lyndsey Butler-Rutz could share a message about postpartum depression and anxiety to others, it would be: it’s not your fault and you’re not alone. It’s the message she’s spreading with the non-profit support group called A Room of Our Own, based in Meadow Lake.

She herself went through the illnesses immediately following the birth of her baby girl nearly two years ago. She was able to heal she said, but not until she felt the support of another person who went through it. She then turned that feeling into a network of advocacy and education. She started the group in November 2016, and it has only grown since.

“It’s such a guilty, shameful, dark place to be, trying to explain something you feel no one else knows,” Butler-Rutz said. “I randomly met a lady who said ‘I get it’ and in 15 minutes, my life changed from just hearing that I wasn’t alone. That’s what I’m trying to provide people. As part of my healing process I said ‘This word needs to get out.’”

Butler-Rutz said family, friends and medical professionals gave her support, but was scared to share too much about what she was feeling for fear of judgment and stigma. She added while there are a number of resources out there, some long term goals of the group include creating resources to share with SaskHealth, and to expand the support network across the province.

Currently, the group holds regular weekly meetings thanks to space from Positively Parenting. There are also planned self-care days, connections to counsellors, and referrals among other supports. For anonymous support, Butler-Rutz has an anonymous text/call line.

“I’ve had many anonymous texts,” she said. “I don’t even know if it’s all been women because this affects the dads, too. Whenever I get a text or a call, I try hard to drop what I’m doing. If somebody’s actually reaching out, they don’t reach out for no reason. If you need living proof, I’m here to prove you can get through it.”

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, postpartum depression and anxiety can likely be caused by many different factors, including family, history, biology, personality, life experiences, and environmental factors, such as sleep deprivation.

Butler-Rutz said it can occur with first babies or even fifth babies, and at various times after becoming a parent. She said the first month after her daughter was born was a blur.

“To me, it’s no different than a physical illness,” she said. “There are so many fine things that you need to tweak. For me, I was referred out of town and I went on medication, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Because things change.”

A Room of Our Own will be at the upcoming community baby shower hosted by Positively Parenting on April 26. Recently, the organization benefitted from a $1,500 donation from Tolko Meadow Lake OSB Division which will help with programming and future development.

 

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @ReporterKath