They cry by themselves, and, not knowing that their depression is not unusual, feel guilty about it.

'I received some of the most devastating news of my life. One ofmy oldest and dearest friends, Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling, had takenher own life only two months after giving birth to her first child,Brandon.

"This was incomprehensible to me. Jennifer could not have donethis! I knew her too well. She was one of the most fun-loving,energetic, free spirited, compassionate, kind, loving , non-judgmental people I have ever known."

The words are from Laura Barry Walsh in a letter she wrote afterlearning that Jennifer, her friend since early childhood, had takenher life in July of 2001 after suffering from serious postpartumdepression. "She would have been an incredible …