The Royal College of Psychiatrists has disclosed a stark reality: postnatal depression harmed as many as 85,000 new mothers across England in the past year alone. This troubling statistic underscores a silent crisis affecting families nationwide, with many women enduring mental health struggles without adequate support.
A Leading Cause of Maternal Mortality
Maternal suicide stands as one of the primary causes of death for women between six weeks and one year following childbirth. Alarmingly, perinatal mental illness accounts for 34% of all fatalities within this demographic during that critical period. The implications extend beyond the mothers themselves, impacting the very foundation of family wellbeing.
Ripple Effects on Infants and Bonding
Untreated prenatal and antenatal mental health conditions can adversely affect unborn infants, elevating risks such as premature birth and low birth weight. Furthermore, parents grappling with these issues may encounter difficulties in forming a secure bond with their newborn, which can contribute to long-term attachment challenges. The cycle of suffering, therefore, reverberates through generations if left unaddressed.
Prevention and Treatment Are Possible
This pervasive issue need not persist. With appropriate intervention, perinatal mental illness is highly treatable. An effective approach considers the individual's biological requirements, psychological state, and social circumstances holistically. Encouraging mothers and their partners to seek help rather than suffer in silence is paramount to breaking the stigma and facilitating recovery.
A Call to Action from Experts
Dr Livia Martucci, Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' perinatal faculty in London, emphasises that support systems must be strengthened. The revelation that up to 85,000 new mums were harmed by postnatal depression last year serves as a urgent reminder of the need for accessible mental health services tailored to perinatal care.
In the UK and Ireland, individuals can contact Samaritans at 116 123 or via email at jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. For those in the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-8255. Australians can reach the crisis support service Lifeline on 13 11 14. Additional international helplines are accessible through www.befrienders.org.
