Mother with postnatal depression writes touching thank you note to cafe owner for their act of kindness

'Be kind to everyone you meet because you don't know [the] battles they are fighting'

The post on Facebook now has over 2,500 likes (PANDA/Facebook)

A mother suffering from postnatal depression wrote a thank you note to a cafe owner whose kindness made a difference to her day.

The new mother sent the note to PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia), who posted it to Facebook so the cafe owner could see her note but she could remain anonymous.

She was staying in a mother-baby residential unit after being diagnosed with postnatal depression.

The note read: "Dear cafe owner, you must have thought I was a bit strange when I stood outside your café trying to open the door when you had clearly closed.

"You might not remember me, I had a baby in a pram and a hospital wrist band on. I wanted to thank you for inviting me in out of the heat and kindly making me a coffee, even though you probably wanted to go home."

Today we received an email from a mum who has recently spent some time in mother baby residential unit after being...

Posted by PANDA on Monday, 23 November 2015

She added: "When you asked if I'd walked over from the hospital, I was too embarrassed to tell you I've got post-natal depression and my baby doesn't sleep and I'm just exhausted.

"Walking to a cafe for a break was what I needed as much as the coffee.

"Your kindness made a difference to my day and reminded me of the saying: 'Be kind to everyone you meet because you don't know [the] battles they're fighting'. Thank you."

The post, which was shared on 24 November, now has over 2,500 likes.

It has inspired other mothers who suffered from postnatal depression to share their stories in the comments.

One wrote: "My local cafe owner used to hold my baby for me if i was having a really bad day, while I had my coffee! Bless those cafe owners!"

"Cafes were my savior when I had PND, a reason to get out and feel part of life and not just invisible at home" another said.

"It was therapy to me. I now take my 5 year old to a cafe when ever we feel down. Cafes are wonderful places."

Another mother added: "The smallest acts of kindness mean the world when you're battling depression, it really is like a bolt of sunshine through the clouds.

"I remember being extra-sensitive to acts like this and feeling the need to express my gratitude so that the person knew they had made a difference. Bravo to this cafe owner."