Hi Friends! Today is the last day of National Suicide Prevention Week 2023! I am troubled by the countless cases of suicide that I keep getting on my news feed. I want to shine a light on the relationship between postpartum depression and suicide and help educate families on how to identify and notify healthcare professionals for assistance.
One case that blew up the news feed in August was of a doctor in N.Y. who had killed her 4-month-old and herself. The most recent case that left me heartbroken was one of a nurse who killed her 7-month-old, 3, and 5-year-old kids, and she also attempted to kill herself.
I am sure these women were surrounded by support in the early days from loved ones, celebrating their newest arrival to the family. The one thing that I can only assume in these cases is that these women didn't get the continued support that they needed. I will list what support looks like for those who need to be made aware.
Support should be a year-long of continued brief visits to Mom and Baby.
Support could be telephone calls to check in on her.
Support would look like watching the baby for Mom so she can free up some time to get sleep or have some alone time.
Support is cooking for her and making sure she is eating.
Support is getting Mom and Baby out of the house to walk in the park.
Support is getting the older kids out of the house for a few hours or letting them spend the night at your home while Mom and Dad bond with the baby.
It is vital to support Mom during this body and mind transformation period so she can give her best to help her baby thrive. As many families are spread across the country and can not physically be there with their loved ones to offer support, it is also essential for the Mom to have a tribe of friends locally to support her.
What is Postpartum depression?
According to the Mayo Clinic, more intense than the "Baby Blues" symptoms, postpartum depression symptoms interfere with your ability to care for your baby, usually develops within the first few weeks after birth, and can last up to a year.
Postpartum Symptoms may include:
Depressed mood or severe mood swings
Crying too much
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Withdrawing from family and friends
Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
Inability to sleep, called insomnia, or sleeping too much
Overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy
Less interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
Intense irritability and anger
Fear that you're not a good mother
Hopelessness
Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
Reduced ability to think clearly, concentrate, or make decisions
Restlessness
Severe anxiety and panic attacks
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
The Mayo Clinic continues to discuss symptoms of postpartum psychosis, a rare condition with severe symptoms that require immediate treatment. Symptoms of Postpartum psychosis include;
Feeling confused and lost
Having obsessive thoughts about your baby
Hallucinating and having delusions
Having sleep problems
Having too much energy and feeling upset
Feeling paranoid
Making attempts to harm yourself or your baby
Now that you know the symptoms of postpartum depression and psychosis, contacting your primary care doctor, OB/GYN, is critical. Please know that getting a healthcare professional to help you take care of yourself so you can care for your baby is empowering, not a sign of weakness.
For everyone involved with supporting Mom and her baby, if you notice signs of depression, help her schedule a PCP, OB/GYN, or therapist appointment, and even take her to the appointment. If she voices her concerns about harming herself or the baby, make sure the baby is safe and call 911 immediately. You can also call or text the U.S. Suicide and Crisis hotline by dialing 988, a free and confidential service—Spanish language phone line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free).
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