"There is nothing ambiguous about it," said Robert Keefe, an associate professor in UB's School of Social Work and the paper's lead author. "Church, religion and spirituality really matter when it comes to treating mothers of color with PPD symptoms."
The researchers developed and identified six specific themes based on their interviews: stress relief; feeling valued and less alone; experiencing gratitude; developing perspective; changing and developing relationships; preventing self-harm. "Some of the women talked of not wanting to wake up, but realized the church mattered and that they mattered as part of the church," said Keefe. "They hit a low point, but going to church, and engaging in prayer, meditation and listening to sermons or reading the church website, helped them to get going.