The purpose of this workshop is to present several different models of community based support for women suffering postpartum mood disorders and their families.

Topics to be covered include:

• What are the aims of each group?
• Who are the support workers? Are they trained, and if so, by whom?
• What do support groups have to offer women and their families?
• What role do support organisations play in the early recognition of postpartum mood disorders?
• Do support groups offer something to families that health professionals are unable to provide? Can their role be seen as complimentary to the treatment provided by health professionals?
• What difficulties do support groups encounter and why?

As discussion highlighting the similarities and differences of the various groups will follow the individual presentations the emphasis will be on teasing out what it is that makes support groups a valuable adjunct to the treatment offered by health professionals for women struggling with postpartum mood disorders.

This workshop will be of interest to health professionals keen to find out what contribution support groups can make to their patient's overall recovery, and to anyone interested in setting up a support group.