New Brunswick women who suffer from depression following the birth of a child now have help from a new mentoring program. 

The program, offered through the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, matches new mothers with other women who have struggled with the condition and can use their experience to help.  

Volunteer mentor Anne Elgee battled postpartum depression 16 years ago, following the birth of her daughter. She wishes she had someone to talk to when she was a new mother, and felt like she was ruining her daughter's life.

"I felt like a failure as a mom, but any time family visited from away it was, 'Anne seems fine, she's great' and as soon as they were out the door the emotions took over again," she said.

Elgee says she kept her postpartum depression a secret because she felt like no one would understand.

Project director Linda Duffett-Leger says that's a common reaction among women battling this condition.

Duffett-Leger suspects that's why only five women have signed up for help in Fredericton and Moncton.

"There's a lot of stigma associated with postpartum depression. There's a lot of expectations on moms in this day and age to be the perfect mom,  and to do everything perfectly," she said. 
"They feel torn to admit maybe they are struggling with this."

Duffett-Leger and her research partner, Dr. Nicole Letourneau at the University of New Brunswick, recently conducted a year-long study that found approximately 30 per cent of new mothers have postpartum depression, and most suffer in silence. 

The study involved interviews with 42 mothers and 32 health-care workers in Alberta and New Brunswick.

Postpartum depression is believed to be triggered by biological changes and hormone imbalances following childbirth. It goes far beyond "the blues," with symptoms including anxiety, exhaustion, confusion, guilt, feelings of failure and fear.

Duffett-Leger estimates that 900 women in the province may experience postpartum depression every year. She says if more women come forward to ask for help, then more support services might be offered in the future.