• Postpartum depression/anxiety
• What helps
• Helping skills and techniques
• Supporting women to take practical steps
• Women with special issues
• The PPPSS Telephone Support Volunteer (TSV) Program
• Ethical guidelines
• Record-keeping guidelines
• Rights and responsibilities of the TSV
• The PPPSS structure and services
• PPPSS Mission, Philosophy, Beliefs

The voices of women in PPPSS postpartum support groups illustrate and support the material being covered.

Who should use this manual?

This Reference Manual for Telephone Support Volunteers is intended for those who are interested in the specialized information necessary to support, by telephone, women who are experiencing postpartum depression/anxiety. We recommend that you also read our guidebook, "Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: A Self-Help Guide for Mothers".

The PPPSS model we describe in this manual will not work in every community, each of which has its own needs and resources. But the principles and experience on which our model is based will provide a framework on which an individualized support program can be developed. While such a program may differ in many ways from the PPPSS model, we strongly recommend that it retain the principle that all volunteers should be provided with adequate supervision and support.

NOTE:

The TSV Manual is bundled with one copy of our book: Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: A Self-Help Guide for Mothers.