Twitter Help for Mental Illness & Postpartum Depression

If you’re using Twitter and could use some support for your mental illness, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, postpartum depression or any other mental health issue, you may want to consider joining a couple of helpful hash-tag chats to connect with others who understand.

Twitter is a great way to connect with people who have similar interests and goals as you have.  You inform each other through micro-blogging, or tweets, but also engage in conversations.  Using the popular #hashtag system, developed as an easy search tool, groups of people have turned a simple exchanging of information and ideas into a full-blown Twitter chat.

#MHSM Chat – Mental Health and Social Media Chat

#MHSM chat was the first Twitter chat that I joined up with.  Also known as “Mental Health & Social Media,” the chat helps people with mental illness connect with others like them in addition to medical and psychiatric professionals.  Each week, a specific topic is selected for discussion.  During the chat, the moderator and @MHSMchat user ask specific questions.  Users are then invited to answer the questions and engage in a discussion.

#MHSM Chat was started by blogger Amy Kiel whose blog, Una Vita Bella, was named one of the top mental health blogs of the year in 2010 by Psych Central.  Amy, who suffers from depression, anxiety and PTSD in addition to Fibromyalgia, started the #MHSM chat with the help of the mental health community on Twitter and receives a lot of behind-the-scenes assistance from the mental health organization, NAMIMass (National Alliance of Mental Illness in Massachusetts).

#PPDChat – Postpartum Depression Chat

#PPDChat is just like #MHSM chat above.  During specific times, women who are currently experiencing symptoms of PPD or those who once suffered from some form of Postpartum disorders, join together in an effort to support and lift up one another.  Medical and psychiatric professionals will often join in on the discussions as well to share facts, support, and advice.

#PPDChat is run by Lauren Hale of My Postpartum Voice.  Lauren started #PPDChat in response to her own experience with Postpartum Depression as a new mother.  Wishing she’d had support during her darkest hour, she now offers friendship and support to other mothers who are suffering from PPD.

How do I join a hashtag chat on Twitter?

Well, you’ll need a Twitter account first.

After that, simply visit TweetChat, connect it with your Twitter account, and type in MHSM or PPDChat in the search field at the top.  Voila, you will now see a live, streaming page of tweets with those hash-tags in them.

At what time are these Twitter hashtag chats held?

Tweet Chat Schedules for #MHSM and #PPDChat:

Monday @ 1PM & 8:30PM EST : #PPDChat

Tuesday @ 9PM EST : #MHSM Chat