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Women's Mental Health

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Barkha ChikaraChief Medical Officer, MD (Psychiatry) from NIMHANS · Last reviewed October 2026

Postpartum depression is depression that starts after having a baby, usually within the first weeks or months. It is more than the baby blues, which pass within about two weeks. It can affect mothers and also fathers and partners, and it is treatable with support from a doctor and therapist.

About 1 in 10 adults in India lives with a mental disorder (National Mental Health Survey, 2015-16). You are not alone.

Care in the language you think in

At a glance

Common signs

  • Persistent low mood after childbirth
  • Difficulty bonding with baby
  • Overwhelming fatigue
  • Anxiety or panic attacks
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How it is usually treated

  • Antidepressants safe for breastfeeding
  • CBT for new mothers
  • Partner and family psychoeducation
  • Peer support groups
See more

Where to start

A free pre-consultation call, then a video assessment with a psychiatrist. In danger? Call 112, or Tele-MANAS on 14416.

Book your free pre-consultation call

Registered clinicians: psychiatrists with their State Medical Council, psychologists with the Rehabilitation Council of India.

Signs

Tick any that feel familiar. This is not a diagnosis, only a clinician can assess you.

How people often describe it

  • “I do not feel happy since the baby came”
  • “I cry a lot after delivery”
  • “I feel guilty that I am not a good mother”
  • “I cannot bond with my baby”

People who live with postpartum depression may also notice generalised anxiety, sleep problems or OCD. If any of these sound familiar, mention them to your clinician so your plan can cover them.

When to get help soon

Get help now if you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or you feel confused, see or hear things others do not, or sleep has almost stopped. This is an emergency: call 112 or go to the nearest hospital.

How it is diagnosed

A psychiatrist asks about your mood, sleep, anxiety, bonding and support at home since the birth, and about any past depression. A simple screening questionnaire is often used. Thyroid and other medical causes may need checking by your doctor.

Treatment and support

  • Talk therapy such as CBT, which works well for new mothers and can be done by video from home
  • Support for partner and family, who often need to understand what is happening
  • Practical help with sleep, feeding and rest where possible
  • Peer support groups
  • Care that takes breastfeeding and baby's safety into account, decided with a doctor

How Mindly helps

Mindly's psychiatrists offer an assessment and therapy that fits around a newborn, by video from home. Family members can join sessions if you wish. If you need urgent in-person care, your clinician will tell you. All care is online, by video.

You can talk to a psychiatrist online, read what a first online consultation involves and see how pricing works before you book. Related reading: baby blues or postpartum depression.

Your first appointment

A psychiatrist asks about mood, anxiety and sleep alongside life stage, such as pregnancy, the postpartum period or menopause, and discusses what is safe at this time.

Who is involved

A psychiatrist leads and can coordinate with your gynaecologist or other doctors, so medicines are chosen with your stage of life in mind.

Between sessions

Reviews are closer together during sensitive periods, and partners and family can be involved if you wish.

What to expect

  1. Free pre-consultation callWe take your history and details, and match you with the right clinician.
  2. First consultationA video call in your language, with a clinician who already has your report.
  3. Your planYour clinician agrees a plan with you: therapy, medicine or both, as suits you.
  4. Follow-up reviewsRegular check-ins, and your plan is adjusted as you recover.
  5. Staying wellSupport to keep you well and catch early signs of a setback.

Every Mindly plan includes a second opinion from our Chief Medical Officer, a diagnosis-first approach and regular tracking of your recovery. How Mindly care works

Book your free pre-consultation call

Your privacy and confidentiality. What you share with Mindly Health stays between you and your care team. Your conversations, reports and messages are treated as confidential and shared only with the team members involved in your care, apart from the limited cases where the law requires it or someone's safety is at serious risk. Read our Privacy Policy and your rights under the Mental Healthcare Act.

Common questions

Is this just the baby blues?

The baby blues bring tearfulness and mood swings in the first days and pass within about two weeks. Low mood that lasts longer, or is severe, may be postpartum depression.

Can fathers or partners get it?

Yes. Fathers and partners can also develop depression after a baby arrives.

Is it my fault, or a sign I am a bad parent?

No. It is a medical condition, not a failure, and it is treatable.

Can I get therapy online?

Yes. Video sessions let you get care without leaving home with the baby.

If you or someone near you is in danger, call 112. For free support at any hour, call Tele-MANAS on 14416. Mindly Health is not an emergency service.

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