"We Cannot Let Her Walk Away; We Got to Deal with it": Addressing Women's Access to Formal and Informal Supportive Resources for Maternal Depression in Barbados

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a descriptive, qualitative research study with Black women in Barbados who experienced self-reported postpartum depression and/or the "baby blues." Anchored by Black Feminist Theory and Caribbean Feminist Theory, the paper discusses women's first-hand experiences of maternal mental health and the formal supports they accessed through the national healthcare system. Women's informal supportive resources are also outlined which were sometimes accessed in lieu of, or in addition to, these services. Focusing on formal and informal supportive resources enables an analysis of the ways women request, seek out, and at times even reject supportive resources during their maternal depression experiences in Barbados.