Supporting Mommies with National Maternal Depression Month
- dsmith072
- May 26, 2017
- 2 min read
Whether you have been a mother experiencing depression throughout your pregnancy, or if your significant other, loved one, co-worker, or friend has experienced it, you have seen it first hand; it is not something to be taken lightly. In fact perinatal depression - more commonly known as maternal depression - is often ignored or taken too lightly because many observers believe that it will pass or is only due to a hormonal imbalance. While this could be true, if perinatal depression is not recognized and taken seriously it can significantly impact the mother's life and make recovery very difficult, or even very unlikely. Long-term maternal depression even has detrimental effects on the child in socioemotional and cognitive development.
To raise awareness of maternal depression is to help people understand, and recognize, it as an issue of utmost importance. To do exactly that, May has been nationally declared as National Maternal Depression Month. Currently, according to a fact sheet by the New York State Department of Health and Office of Mental Health, there are four recognized types of maternal depression: prenatal depression, “baby blues,” postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis (Source).
In an interview conducted by Empower Her with Diane Sanford, a clinical psychologist specializing in pregnancy and postpartum mental health, and author of the book “Life Will Never Be the Same: The Real Mom’s Postpartum Survival Guide,” shared her thoughts on the month's devotion to the issue:
“I think it’s important to have a month devoted to the issue of maternal emotional health because how moms fare emotionally has such a significant impact on their children and families, and if we have to start by focusing on depression, that’s OK,” Sanford said (Source).
Sanford also continues to explain in her interview things that can be done by any person to help those experiencing maternal depression (Source):
Simply be there for them and make sure they are keeping up on their self-care
Help them manage their stress wisely
Assure them that what they are experiencing is normal and in no way an indicator of their ability to be a mother
Encourage them to see counseling should they so choose
If they would like to see counseling, help them find it
With their permission, set up an adequate social support group filled with their loved ones and friends to help them move forward
If you or your loved one is experiencing postpartum depression and would like to seek help, we at Thrive Counseling are also available to you. Contact us to find out more about how you can seek help, and what we can offer you.
734-436-4249
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