Dr. Ananya Rao
Adult Psychiatry
MD Psychiatry
Leads the inpatient psychiatric team, with a focus on mood and anxiety disorders.
Conditions · Women's mental health
Women's mental health
Hormonal changes, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause can all affect mental health. Women's mental-health care recognises these links so that symptoms are understood — and treated — in context.
PMDDPostpartumPerimenopause
What it can look like
Signs of women's mental health
Not everyone experiences every sign, and intensity varies. If several of these sound familiar, an assessment is worth having.
- Marked mood changes before periods (PMDD)
- Persistent sadness or anxiety during pregnancy or after birth
- Difficulty bonding, intrusive worries or exhaustion after childbirth
- Irritability, low mood or poor sleep around perimenopause
- Loss of interest, tearfulness or feeling overwhelmed
- Thoughts of harming yourself or the baby — seek help immediately
Free self-check
Unsure what you are experiencing?
Take a two-minute reflection based on the signs above. It is private, and it is not a diagnosis.
6 short questions
A two-minute check-in on women's mental health
You will see one question at a time. There are no right or wrong answers, and nothing is saved.
Understanding it
Types & presentations of women's mental health
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Severe mood symptoms in the days before a period.
Perinatal depression & anxiety
Occurring during pregnancy or in the first year after birth.
Postpartum psychosis
A rare but urgent condition requiring immediate care.
Perimenopausal mood changes
Depression and anxiety around the menopause transition.
The Sakura approach
How we treat women's mental health
Every plan is individual, but care generally moves through these stages.
- 01
Listening first
Understanding your cycle, pregnancy or life stage in the context of symptoms.
- 02
Pregnancy-safe prescribing
Medication decisions made carefully with obstetric input.
- 03
Therapy & practical support
CBT, interpersonal therapy and parenting and sleep support.
- 04
Partner & family involvement
Helping those around you understand and support recovery.
Care pathways
Pathways for women's mental health
Care is shaped around your life stage — whether cyclical, perinatal or menopausal.
Mild to moderate symptoms in any life stage
Supportive therapy
Therapy that links mood and anxiety to hormones, sleep and life changes, with practical coping strategies.
Understanding the link between hormones, sleep and mood takes away self-blame, and practical strategies reduce the impact of difficult days.
- CBT or interpersonal therapy
- Cycle, sleep and mood tracking
- Parenting and sleep support if postpartum
- Partner or family sessions
Women with mild to moderate low mood or anxiety linked to their cycle, pregnancy, postpartum or menopause.
Better coping, more predictable mood and confidence about what is happening.
Moderate to severe depression or anxiety, PMDD, or perinatal illness
Therapy + psychiatric care
Medication where needed, chosen carefully for pregnancy or breastfeeding, alongside therapy and close follow-up.
Untreated perinatal and hormonal mood illness affects the whole family. Safe, coordinated medical and psychological care gets help quickly and carefully.
- Psychiatric assessment with obstetric coordination
- Pregnancy- and breastfeeding-aware prescribing
- Therapy alongside, with frequent review
- Urgent pathway for postpartum psychosis
Women with moderate to severe symptoms, PMDD, postpartum depression or anxiety, or a previous history that puts them at risk.
A swift return to feeling like yourself, supported bonding and ongoing follow-up through the vulnerable period.
Helping yourself between sessions
- Track your cycle and mood to spot patterns
- Rest when you can; accept practical help with the baby
- Keep some daily movement and sunlight
- Speak to your doctor early — do not wait it out
If you are supporting someone you love
- Take on practical tasks at home
- Let her rest, and listen without judgement
- Watch for withdrawal, hopelessness or fears for the baby
- Go with her to appointments if she wants
Where care happens
Choose the level of care that fits
Meet the specialists
The clinicians who will look after you
A named psychiatrist and therapist from day one.
Questions answered
Your questions about women's mental health
Straight answers to what people and families ask us most.
Our care team is happy to talk it through — no obligation.
A depressive illness occurring after childbirth, more lasting and severe than the 'baby blues'. It is common and treatable.
A severe form of premenstrual syndrome with marked mood symptoms that impair daily life.
Often yes. Options are weighed carefully for each person, with your obstetrician involved.
No. Baby blues are mild and pass within two weeks. Postpartum depression is longer-lasting and needs treatment.
Yes. Mood changes, anxiety and poor sleep are common, and there are effective treatments.
When to seek help
If you are struggling after childbirth or feel unable to cope, please do not wait. Treatment is safe and effective.
In an emergency or if you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest hospital. In India, the Tele MANAS helpline is 1-800-891-4416.