Did you know that 1 in 7 new mom’s in the U.S. suffer from postpartum depression and/or anxiety?
Did you know that many new mom’s don’t have access to appropriate mental health care to help treat and solve their postpartum depression?
Did you know that suicide is the second leading cause of death in postpartum women within a year of giving birth?
{These facts are staggering and painful}
A recent study from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) found that some women may be at higher risk of developing postpartum depression depending on the type of contraception they are given following birth.
The awareness of postpartum depression in new mothers and its effects, is rising. More and more organizations are stepping up to bring a voice to this issue and there is an outcry for change in the way women are treated postpartum. This is relieving but {in my opinion} cannot come quick enough.
We’re beginning to understand maternal postpartum depression more and more. And more focus has been placed on maternity care to detect warning signs before or during pregnancy.
But here’s another question for you…
Did you know that 1 in 10 new dads in the U.S. suffer from Postpartum Depression?
Did you know that {even more so than women} mental health care is not readily available to men experiencing postpartum depression?
Did you know that until about 5 years ago, the idea of a man experiencing postpartum depression was {UNHEARD} of and often laughed at.
According to a study from the Center for Pediatric Research, children of men who experience postpartum depression are more likely to have a reduced vocabulary at age 2.
Our culture has focused a lot of attention on the effects on children whose mother’s suffer from PPD but very little attention or consideration is given to the effects of father’s who suffer.
This is not to say that one or the other are more or less important. I think that we need to give equal focus to the impacts that this very serious condition has on not only the parents of today but the future that we’re growing.
PPD heightens a person’s likelihood to turn to substances and addictions.
PPD decreases a person’s interest in normal life activities.
There becomes a lack of human interaction. There becomes a lack of interaction with their children.
There becomes a pressure to seem okay, when one truly isn’t.
The weight of daily, societal expectations becomes too much and parents just {give. up.}
Then these children grow up in negligent homes. They see poor behaviors and addictive personalities. But they don’t know any different and this, {this drudging, hurting, desperation} becomes the normal functioning capacity of our society.
The longer we ignore the impact of Postpartum Depression in our society, the further we perpetuate a cycle of depressive, addictive, appathetic personalities.
It is my cry that we face this beast that is Postpartum Depression in both men and women.
It is my cry that families step in and support mother’s and father’s suffering, rather than shaming them and telling them they
“Just need to get better”.
It is my cry that if YOU are suffering from Postpartum Depression or even THINK you may be, that you reach out and ask for help.
Every parent is necessary to the development of their children. Every parent is necessary to the growth of this generation.
EVERY.PARENT. IS. VITALLY. IMPORTANT.
When you see a fellow parent suffering, please know that you can make a difference by offer a listening ear or a helping hand.
We must walk together in this journey.
Here are some resources for families:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Postpartum Support International: 1-800-944-4PPD
PPD Moms: 1-800-PPD-MOMS
Postpartumprogress.com
If at any point you feel that someone is going to hurt themselves or someone else, please call 911!
