Mental Health Resources
Emergency & Crisis Lines
Emergencies
If you or a loved one is experiencing an emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If you or a loved one is having suicidal ideation, please call or text 988. You can also open a chat at 988lifeline.org/chat.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project offers a suicide hotline and crisis care to folks in the LGBTQIA+ community. Call (866)488-7386. Visit the site here.
The Veterans Crisis Line
The Veterans Crisis Line offers a suicide hotline and crisis care to veterans. You do not need to be enrolled in VA benefits or healthcare to use this service. Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. Visit the site here.
Local Crisis Resources
Iowa Crisis Lines
Your Life Iowa: call (855)851-8111, text (855)895-8398
Broadlawns Hospital Crisis Line: (515)282-5752
Iowa Victim Service Call Center: call (800)770-1650 or text “IOWAHELP” to 20121
Iowa In-Person Services
Unity Point Behavioral Health Urgent Care: (515)263-2632
Broadlawns Behavioral Health Urgent Care & Crisis Observation: (515)282-5742
Clive Behavioral Health: (844)640-0504
National Crisis Resources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline
Call (800)985-5990 or visit SAMHSA’s website.. SAMHSA is dedicated to providing 24/7 crisis counseling and support to those experiencing distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
Non-Emergency Resources
Iowa Support Services
Heart of Iowa Community Services
Find a detailed list of free and low-cost community and healthcare organizations, services, and resources here.
Mental Health Support Groups in Des Moines
A list of support groups in the Des Moines area can be found here.
Postpartum Support International (PSI) Iowa
A non-profit organization that helps support parents experiencing perinatal mood disorders. Find resources here.
National Support Services
Postpartum Support International (PSI) Helpline
English: Call (800)944-4773 and press 1 or text (800)944-4773
Spanish: Call (800)944-4773 and press 2 or text (971)203-7773
Postpartum Support International (PSI) Online Support Groups
Find available groups here.
Postpartum Support International (PSI) Provider Directory
Find a list of providers here.
Postpartum Support International (PSI) Chat Option for Moms
Speak with an expert for moms here.
Postpartum Support International (PSI) Chat Option for Dads
Speak with an expert for dads here.
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
(833)852-6262 or (833)TLC-MAMA
Postpartum Stress Center
Get support for prenatal and postpartum anxiety and depression here.
Mindfulness & Meditation
Books
“Buddhism for Mothers: A Calm Approach to Caring for Yourself and Your Children” – Sarah Naphtali (2003)
“Aware: The Science of Presence – a Complete Guide to the Groundbreaking Wheel of Awareness Meditation Practice” – Daniel J. Siegel (2018)
“Mindful Motherhood: Practical Tools for Staying Sane During Pregnancy and Your Child’s First Year” – Cassandra Vieten (2009)
“Mindful Moments for Busy Moms: Daily Meditations and Mantras for Greater Calm, Balance, and Joy” – Sarah Rudell Beach (2018)
“The Miracle of Mindfulness” – Thich Nhat Hanh (1975)
Mama-Centered Podcasts
Mom & Mind
Psychologist and specialist in perinatal mental health, Dr. Kat, interviews parents and gets real about concerns like postpartum depression and anxiety, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and more. Listen here.
What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood
Real stories of parenthood that might make you cry, laugh, and learn something new. Listen here.
The Birth Hour
Stories of childbirth as told by women willing to share one of the biggest, most intimate moments of their lives. Listen here.
Books on Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders
“Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers” – Karen Kleiman and Molly McIntyre (2019)
“This Isn’t What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression” – Karen R.
Kleiman and Valerie Davis Raskin MD (2013)
“The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook: Practical Skills to Help You Overcome
Anxiety, Worry, Panic Attacks, Obsessions, and Compulsions” – Pamela S. Wiegartz, Kevin L.
Gyoerkoe (2009)
“The Pregnancy Workbook: Manage Anxiety and Worry with CBT and Mindfulness Techniques” – Katayune Kaeni (2021)
“Birth Trauma: A Guide for You, Your Friends and Family to Coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Birth” – Kim Thomas (2013)
“Heal Your Birth Story: Releasing the Unexpected” – Maureen Campion (2015)
“Daddy Blues: Postnatal Depression and Fatherhood” – Mark Williams (2018)
Books on Postpartum
“The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother” – Heng Ou, Amely Greeven, and Marisa Belger (2016)
“Birth in Four Cultures: A Crosscultural Investigation of Childbirth in Yucatan, Holland, Sweden, and the United States” (4th edition) – Brigitte Jordan and Robbie Davis-Floyd (1993)
“Zuo Yuezi: An American Mother’s Guide to Chinese Postpartum Recover” – Guang Ming Whitley and Kai Tsu Easlon (2016)
“What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood” – Dr. Alexandra Sacks and Dr. Catherine Birndorf (2019).
“Strong as a Mother: How to Stay Healthy, Happy, and (Most Importantly) Sane from Pregnancy to Parenthood: The Only Guide to Taking Care of YOU!” – Kate Rope (2018).
“The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality Paperback” – Kimberly Ann Johnson (2017).
“The Postpartum Plan Workbook” – Erin Huiatt (2019)
“Build Your Nest: A Postpartum Planning Workbook Paperback” – Kestrel Gates (2016)
Books on Relationships
“To Have and to Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, and the Modern Dilemma” – Molly Millwood (2019)
“How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids” – Jancee Dunn (2017)
John and Julie Gottman are world-renowned relationship experts who have published several books and other tools, including an app, on the subject of relationship satisfaction and success.
Childbirth Books & Additional Resources
“Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide” – Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, Ann Keppler, Janelle Durham, and April Bolding (2018)
“Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong and What You Really Need to Know” – Emily Oster (2013)
“Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth” -Ina May Gaskin (2003)
“Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood and Trusting Yourself and Your Body” – Erica Chidi Cohen and Jillian Ditner (2017)
“Babies Are Not Pizzas: They’re Born, Not Delivered” – Rebecca Dekker (2019)
“Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: A Doctor’s Guide to Natural Childbirth and Gentle Early Parenting Choices” – Sarah J. Buckley (2005)
“Creating Your Birth Plan: The Definitive Guide to a Safe and Empowering Birth” – Marsden Wagner (2006)
“The Positive Birth Book: A New Approach to Pregnancy, Birth and the Early Week” – Milli Hill (2017)
Online Resource
Evidence-Based Birth is a resource that informs and empowers expecting parents as well as birth-care practitioners around the world. Visit the site here.
Lactation & Medication
If you are concerned about taking medications while breastfeeding or pumping, please consult your physician. Here is a list of additional resources you may find helpful:
LactMed
This app provides free and up-to-date information, including access to their database, a resource from the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Download here.
Infant Risk Center
A team of specialists from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center provides up-to-date lactation support. Find resources here. They also have a helpful app, which you can find on that page.
E-Lactancia
A helpful resource to help you find whether certain medications, foods, and more are compatible with breastfeeding. Start your search here.
Grief & Loss
Central Iowa Support Groups
Every Step
This Des Moines group offers support for those experiencing perinatal and infant loss. Find support here.
No Foot Too Small
Based in Coralville, Iowa, this group brings families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss together. Find support here.
Fletcher Foundation
This group, out of Ankeny, Iowa, helps support families grieving the loss of a child emotionally and financially. Find support here.
National Support Groups
Postpartum Support International (PSI) Support Groups
There are several virtual support groups available through PSI, including a weekly perinatal loss group. Take a look at the options here.
Books on Grief & Loss
“Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby” – Deobrah L. Davis (2016)
“A Silent Sorrow: Pregnancy Loss – Guidance and Support for You and Your Family” – Ingrid Kohn (2000)
“Beyond Tears: Living After Losing a Child” – Ellen Mitchell, Rita Volpe, Ariella Long, Phyllis Levine, Madeline Perri Kasden, Barbara Goldstein, Barbara Eisenberg, Lorenza Colletti, Audrey Cohen, and Carol Barkin (2009)
“Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief” – Martha Whitmore Hickman (1994)
“Pregnancy After a Loss: A Guide to Pregnancy After a Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Infant Death” – Carol Cirulli Lanham (1999)
“An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination: A Memoir” – Elizabeth McCracken
“Hope for Today, Promises for Tomorrow: Finding Light Beyond the Shadow of Miscarriage or Infant Loss” – Teske Drake (2012)
“I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy” – Angie Smith (2010)
Additional Resources
Love and Logic Parenting Online
A webinar that covers parenting techniques, including practicing empathy, ending bedtime arguments, and more. Sign up here.
Understanding Health Coverage & Medical Terms
This PDF glossary explains many of the terms you may encounter when dealing with insurance and healthcare. Download here.
Contact Us
If you have questions about what counseling might look like for you or how to best proceed, please call us at (515) 499-4959. If you're more comfortable with email, please connect with us at contactus@bloomwomenswellness.
Insurance & Private Pay Accepted
We accept Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Wellmark, as well as private pay. It’s our belief that mental health care should be accessible and we’re happy to work with you on a sliding fee scale.