Life and Emotions

BayCare offers a wide variety of inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services. Individuals who are seeking behavioral health or chemical dependency counseling can find personal or group support resources. More than 200 professionals are dedicated to delivering effective and innovative solutions. Women can be affected by numerous types of depression and emotional changes throughout their lives, and BayCare is committed to helping guide women through psychological challenges at any age.

Clinical and Postpartum Depression in Women

Depression can be described as feeling sad or blue. Clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for two weeks or more. The main types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, postpartum, premenstrual, and seasonal affective disorder. If feelings of depression and sadness last more than two weeks, contact your doctor or other health professional before your symptoms get worse.

Postpartum depression is moderate to severe depression in a woman after she has given birth. Most of the time, depression occurs within the first three months after delivery. There is an increased risk if you are under the age of 20, currently abuse alcohol, didn’t plan the pregnancy, had depression before childbirth, have money problems or have a poor relationship with your spouse or significant other. Find BayCare-sponsored postpartum depression support groups in your area. You can also refer to our Postpartum Depression Scale. 

Experiencing Depression during Menopause

Menopause occurs around age 45-55. Generally, the ovaries stop producing eggs and the body begins to produce less estrogen. Menopause is generally considered complete after a year without the presence of a menstrual cycle. Common symptoms would include a racing heart, night sweats, hot flashes, skin flushing, headaches, vaginal infections, mood swings and insomnia.

Assistance Programs for Women & Their Families

BayCare is proud to offer a comprehensive range of assistance programs for women and their families throughout the Tampa Bay area community:

• Congregational Assistance Program (CAP) - Mental health services for members of the Faith Community who are dealing with personal stress and anxiety.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - A confidential support system for BayCare employees who need short-term assistance managing the stress and anxiety of work and home.
• Family Assistance Program (FAP) - A program tailored to the needs of students, their parents, and school faculty members to cope with the emotional, psychological and social challenges faced in school.
• Student Assistance Program (SAP) - Confidential service for college students to help them deal with common issues such as stress, relationships, peer pressure and substance use.

For more information about women's behavioral health services offered at BayCare, please call (866) 309-7040 or tell us more about your particular issue so that we can better serve your unique needs. You can also visit BayCareBehavioralHealth.org. We proudly serve individuals in Tampa, Clearwater, Riverview, Winter Haven, St. Petersburg and throughout the Tampa Bay area.