Q: Since having my daughter six months ago, I have made friends with a few mums with babies of a similar age. We are all agreed that we are very worried about one of the mums in our group. She seems detached from her daughter and does nothing but find fault with her or tell us that she thinks her baby has various different health conditions - all of which are serious. We are all very worried about her state of mind, but what can we do?

A: This is of course a very difficult situation and no one can blame you or your friends for worrying. And it does sound as though your friend is in a fragile state of mind and could well be suffering from post natal depression - so you must take action, even if you feel as though you are interfering.

First of all, have you actually sat down with your friend and asked her if she is really ok? It could be that she is scared to talk about how she feels, but some gentle encouragement and loving words from a trusted friend could be the trigger she needs to let it all out. This would definitely be the first important step towards recovery from post natal depression.

Secondly, have you spoken to her partner about your fears? You may discover that he has the same fears as you - or he could of course be completely oblivious to the situation. Either way, a gentle word with him may kick start a chain of events that could help your friend on the road to recovery.

Whatever you decide to do, the most important thing is to be there for your friend. By choosing to become involved in this situation you are also committing yourself to the possibility of wiping away many tears, as well as listening to her fears and frustrations over days, weeks or even months. So be prepared to see this through to a happy ending.

Finally it is worth bearing in mind that, with the right treatment, post natal depression can be very successfully treated - but only if the individual seeks treatment and help. This isn't always easy for a sufferer who cannot see the wood for the trees. Therefore, you and your friends have a very important role to play in helping your friend make that important first move towards recovery.