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In many countries, up to one in five new mothers experience a mood or anxiety disorder. Unfortunately, these conditions often go undiagnosed and untreated due to lack of awareness and stigma, and everyone pays the price.
Today is World Maternal Mental Health Day, and it’s time to recognize the importance of maternal mental health. How can you tell if you or a loved one needs help? What types of treatment are available? What can pregnant or postpartum people do? And how can the surrounding community help? Can we help?
To find out more, we spoke to CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is a mother of two young children and an emergency physician, and George is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Washington. She previously served as the Baltimore City Health Commissioner and as the president of Behavioral Health System She Baltimore, a regional nonprofit organization that advances treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.
CNN: Why is it so important to address maternal mental health?
Dr. Liana Wen: Mental health is an important part of overall health. Mental health affects well-being in itself and has a huge impact on the physical health of both women and babies.
Pregnant women with untreated mental health conditions experience symptoms such as: higher rate Lack of prenatal care. After giving birth, women are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, psychosis, and other mental illnesses. Untreated mental health conditions also related It is associated with premature birth, low birth weight, problems with the baby’s sleep and feeding, and even developmental and cognitive problems.
Sadly, in the United States, mental health disorders are the root cause of many deaths that occur during and after pregnancy. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22.7% More pregnancy-related deaths are related to mental health conditions than bleeding (13.7%) and infections (9.2%). This is a crisis and more needs to be done to address it.
CNN: How common are maternal mental health conditions?
Wen: According to , 10 percent of pregnant women and 13 percent of postpartum women experience a mental health condition, the most common of which is depression. who. In developed countries, including developed countries, Americait increases to over 15% during pregnancy and to 19.8% after childbirth.
These numbers are staggering. Equally upsetting are the numbers regarding lack of treatment. In some studies, less than 15% A percentage of people with these symptoms receive some form of treatment.
Imagine if you were discussing some other serious medical condition. Imagine if less than 15% of people with diabetes were on treatment for diabetes, or less than 15% of people with heart disease were on treatment. We do not consider these numbers acceptable, nor should we accept them for treatment of mental health conditions.
CNN: Many postpartum women have “baby blues.” How do you differentiate between that and postpartum depression?
Wen: “Baby blues” are a symptom that most women experience after giving birth. These include mood swings, feeling overwhelmed, irritability, and trouble sleeping. Baby blues generally occur immediately after birth and last for several days. This person has some symptoms that make them feel depressed, but overall they feel good.
Baby blues are completely different from postpartum depression. Symptoms of postpartum depression may initially resemble those of baby blues, but they are more intense and last for at least two weeks and sometimes several months. Specific symptoms include persistently depressed mood, crying, extreme fatigue, and intense irritability and anger.
Women may withdraw from family and friends, become less interested in activities they previously enjoyed, and may even experience difficulty bonding with and caring for their baby. She may be ashamed that the person is hopeless and worthless and that she is not a good mother. As this progresses, her mother develops severe anxiety and panic attacks, and thoughts of harming herself, her baby, and those around her.
CNN: Are there other postpartum mental health conditions?
Wen: yes. Postpartum depression is the most common mental health condition, but there are others.
Postpartum Depression Another symptom that can occur alone or in conjunction with postpartum depression is postpartum anxiety. It’s normal to feel anxious after becoming a new parent, but it becomes a problem when anxious feelings get out of control and take over your thoughts. People with this condition have intense worry, including irrational fears of unlikely events.
Other mental health conditions may appear during the postpartum period, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, also known as OCD. Additionally, drug use is often associated with mental health diagnoses.
Another condition I would like to mention is postpartum psychosis. This is the most serious postpartum mental condition. This is rare, occurring in about 1 to 2 in 1,000 postpartum women. The woman becomes unstable, oscillating between depression and elation, and may have hallucinations and delusions.This is a psychiatric emergency. urgent treatment required This is to prevent women from harming themselves, their babies, and others.
CNN: What types of treatments are available?
Wen: There’s good news here. A variety of effective treatments are available to treat postpartum depression and other mental health disorders.
There are two types of treatment: talk therapy and drug therapy. Psychotherapy involves discussing your concerns with a mental health professional. There are many different types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy. Generally, they help patients recognize their emotions and deal with them better.
Your health care provider may also prescribe antidepressants. In some cases, your doctor will add additional medications depending on your symptoms. For example, people with anxiety may also benefit from anti-anxiety medications.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two drugs specifically to treat postpartum depression. These drugs can be used for a shorter period of time than antidepressants and may be a good option for some women, but insurance coverage and cost can be a barrier.
As with any medical condition, some women respond better to some treatments than others. A combination of treatments may be required. The length of treatment also depends on individual circumstances.
CNN: What can pregnant and postpartum women do? And how can those around them be helped to improve their mental health and emotional well-being?
Wen: Health during and after pregnancy begins well before pregnancy and childbirth. Seeking help for mental health conditions is extremely important for women, and for everyone. People with pre-existing mental health conditions, such as depression or bipolar disorder, are much more likely to experience mental health problems postpartum. It is important to diagnose and treat these conditions before pregnancy.
That said, it is also important to recognize that experiencing postpartum depression and other mental health diagnoses during pregnancy and after childbirth can occur even in people who have not had a mental health illness in the past. Very important. They can happen to anyone. Just as it is no one’s fault if you are diagnosed with diabetes or cancer, it is no one’s fault if you suffer from a mental health condition. There should be no stigma associated with the diagnosis.
People around you can help by paying attention to the signs of postpartum depression. They can provide support such as encouraging treatment or providing child care or other support the person needs. Everyone should keep in mind that prompt treatment is effective and important for the health of women and their families.
