Halle Bailey, celebrated for her role in the film “The Little Mermaid,” recently shared her raw and honest experience with postpartum depression after welcoming her son, Halo. In a heartfelt Snapchat video circulated on social media, the 24-year-old actress bravely discussed the challenges she has faced since becoming a new mother.
“I just wanted to speak a little bit about my postpartum journey as a new mom,” Bailey began, setting the tone for a candid conversation about her mental health struggles.
Acknowledging the severity of her condition, Bailey revealed, “I have severe, severe postpartum [depression], and I don’t know if any new moms can relate, but it’s to the point where it’s really bad, and it’s hard for me to be separated from my baby for more than 30 minutes at a time before I start to kind of freak out.”
Expressing gratitude for the unwavering support of her partner, DDG, Bailey praised him as “the most amazing daddy in the world” and highlighted his dedication to their son. “Moo Moo is just the perfect dad to him. He loves him so much; he’s so present,” she gushed, emphasizing the importance of having a supportive co-parent during such a challenging time.
Despite her profound love for her son, Bailey admitted to struggling with her own self-image and identity following childbirth. “Halo is a miracle. He is perfect. He is beautiful. When I look at him, I cry because of how special he is,” she shared emotionally. “The only thing that’s been hard for me is feeling normal in my own body. I feel like a completely different person when I look in the mirror.”
Reflecting on her previous misconceptions about postpartum depression, Bailey confessed, “Before I had a child and I would hear people talk about postpartum, it would kind of just go in one ear and out the other… I didn’t realize how serious of a thing it actually was.” Now, experiencing it firsthand, she likened the struggle to navigating treacherous waters. “Now going through it, it feels like you’re swimming in this ocean that’s like the biggest waves you’ve ever felt, and you’re trying not to drown,” she explained.
Bailey also addressed the harmful impact of social media on her mental health, particularly in exacerbating feelings of vulnerability and insecurity. “It’s just, it’s honestly, it’s really, really crazy to me that people would feel the need to say such hurtful things,” she lamented. “Even though you may look up to certain people and you think that they are celebrities, and they appear to have it all together, you never know what somebody else is going through, especially someone who just had a baby literally.”
In sharing her personal struggle, Bailey hopes to raise awareness about postpartum depression and challenge the stigma surrounding mental health issues. By speaking out, she underscores the importance of empathy, compassion, and support for new mothers navigating the complexities of parenthood.
