Carrying Each Other’s Burdens: A Christian Perspective of Postpartum Psychosis and Mental-Health Crisis
- Hilda Castillo-Landrum
- Jan 25
- 4 min read
Postpartum psychosis is one of the most misunderstood and frightening mental-health crises a mother can face. It is rare, sudden, and deeply overwhelming; not only for the mother, but also for her family. Too often, women suffering from postpartum psychosis are dismissed, mislabeled, or left to struggle in silence. My heart is to help bring awareness, compassion, and truth to this topic from a Christian perspective, because Scripture calls us to be people who carry one another’s burdens and reflect Christ’s compassion in the darkest valleys.
This issue is deeply personal to me. I have walked through two different mental-health battles in my own life:
I experienced postpartum depression after childbirth.
At a completely different time, unrelated to motherhood, I went through a psychotic break.
These experiences opened my eyes to the reality that mental-health crises do not discriminate. They can happen to anyone. And they often strike without warning. That is why my heart feels tender toward anyone walking through postpartum psychosis, or any form of severe mental distress. No one should face it alone.
What Is Postpartum Psychosis?
Postpartum psychosis (PP) is a medical emergency. It is not the “baby blues” and it is not regular postpartum depression. It is a sudden break from reality that can include:
• hallucinations
• delusions
• extreme confusion
• mania or racing thoughts
• paranoia
• severe agitation
• inability to sleep
• talking about harming oneself or the baby
• behavior that is drastically out of character
If a mother shows these symptoms, she needs immediate medical attention.
As Christians, our response must be compassion, not judgment. Mental illness is not a sin or a failure. It is a medical suffering of the mind, and suffering people require care, protection, and Christlike love.
Scripture to inspire us to Christ-like love for this journey:
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:2
That is the heart of this entire message! Christians are called to walk with those who are hurting. To shoulder weight they cannot carry alone. To protect the vulnerable. To offer comfort, prayer, and presence.
Warning Signs Family Members Should Watch For…
Because PP appears suddenly, loved ones are often the first to recognize something is wrong. Watch for:
• extreme confusion or disorientation
• delusional or bizarre beliefs
• hallucinations
• paranoia or irrational fear
• rapid mood swings or mania
• severe insomnia
• inability to recognize loved ones
• talking about harm
• sudden agitation or pacing
• behavior that feels “not like them at all”
If you see these symptoms, do not leave the mother alone and seek emergency help immediately.
Emergency Support:
• 988 — U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7)
• 911 — if the situation is urgent or dangerous
• Encourage the person to get emergency evaluation — PP is treatable, but immediate help matters.
Organizations That Support Postpartum Psychosis & Severe Mental Illness:
1) Postpartum Support International (PSI)
Website: https://www.postpartum.net
One of the leading nonprofits for postpartum depression, anxiety, and postpartum psychosis. They offer:
– a helpline
– online support groups
– therapist directory
– education for families
– crisis guidance
2) Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) — United Kingdom
Website: https://www.app-network.org
A charity dedicated specifically to postpartum psychosis.
Offers:
– peer support
– educational materials
– family guidance
– advocacy
– research
(APP is based in the UK but its resources help families worldwide.)
3) Postpartum Support Center — Marin County, CA
Website: https://www.postpartumsc.org
A local California organization providing:
– maternal mental-health support
– peer groups
– postpartum resources
– family assistance
– community-based services
This is one of the strongest community-level supports for mothers in crisis in California.
4) NAMI — National Alliance on Mental Illness
Website: https://www.nami.org
Provides nationwide support for anyone living with serious mental illness, including psychosis. They offer:
– family classes
– peer support groups
– advocacy
– education
– crisis guidance
5) Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance
Website: https://sczaction.org
Focused specifically on psychosis and schizophrenia.
Offers:
– education
– advocacy
– support
– community for individuals and families
6) Treatment Advocacy Center
Advocates for people with severe mental illness who struggle to access care. Works to improve laws, treatment access, and crisis intervention.
7) Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF)
Website: https://www.bbrfoundation.org
Funds research for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, psychosis, and more.
8) Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP)
Focuses on improving responses to people with mental illness who come into contact with the justice system. Helpful for families navigating legal complications attached to psychosis.
Additional California-Based Perinatal Mental Health Resources
1. California Maternal Mental Health Collaborative
Supports statewide maternal mental-health training, screenings, and treatment pathways.
2. Postpartum Wellness California
Offers therapy and support for postpartum mood disorders statewide.
3. Maternal Mental Health NOW (Los Angeles)
Provides education, training, and resources for postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.
4. Perinatal Mental Health Partnership in California Hospitals
Many CA hospitals have perinatal mental-health teams that offer screening, support, and intervention.
5. County Behavioral Health Departments (all CA counties)
Local services for crisis support, evaluations, and referrals for psychosis and perinatal mental illness.
How us as Christians should respond:
Mental-health crises can feel terrifying, but Scripture invites us to meet suffering with compassion, not fear.
Jesus consistently moved toward the broken, the confused, the hurting, and the outcast. He did not shame those suffering in ways others didn’t understand. He restored them.
Postpartum psychosis is not a moral failure. It is a medical emergency that demands tenderness and action.
If you or someone you love is walking through postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, or any mental-health struggle, I will pray for you.
You can submit a prayer request through the form on my website (link in bio). It would be my honor to stand with you in this.
You are not alone. You are loved. And there is hope… medically, emotionally, spiritually, and eternally.
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