An Aberdeenshire mum who suffered both pre and postnatal depression is setting up a support group to help other families.
Rebecca Lowson believes there is a lack of support in the north-east for struggling mums, and has teamed up with UK charity Pandas to bring a group to Inverurie.
The group will be the first of its kind in the north-east, and will meet fortnightly.
As well as helping mums, dads, other family members and carers tackle the challenges of depression, Pandas also campaigns to raise awareness and remove the stigma of the illness.
Mrs Lowson said when her depression kicks in, she feels like she is “drowning”.
The mother-of-two, of Whitleywell Drive, Inverurie, said: “Mums should realise that it’s OK not to be OK.
“This new group will allow them to talk about their experiences together and not be judged by them.”
Mrs Lowson first became down before the birth of her first child, Freya, now two, but when she went back to work as a retail manager nine months later things seemed to pick up.
However, she stopped work six weeks before the arrival of Ethan, now one, and again began to struggle.
She said: “I don’t think a lot of women will realise they have pre-natal depression before they have their baby, they might just think it’s the last stage of pregnancy. It’s maybe after the baby is born, when they are assessed by the health visitor they realise things weren’t quite right before the birth.
“When I had my first child, I had a bit of post-natal depression, but after nine months I went back to work and things seemed to get better, I had my own time back to myself.
“I was off six weeks before my second baby and had a little bit of prenatal depression, and then postnatal depression again.
“Now I have more better days than bad ones definitely, I’m a lot better than I was.”
The full-time mum thanked her husband Pete for his support, but said there were many women who were not as “lucky” to have people around to help – and that sometimes, it was easier to speak to someone who knew exactly what she was going through.
“One of the reasons I’m setting up the group is that there seems to be very little support in the Inverurie area for women suffering from pre or post-natal depression.
“I want this group to be open to everybody affected.”
To find out more about the new group call 07792 547772, e-mail inveruriepandas@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/inveruriepandas