Postnatal depression warning issued as 85,000 women suffered from illness in UK last year
The signs of postnatal depression to look out for
- Up to 85,000 new mothers in England may have been impacted by postnatal depression last year, according to new analysis by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych).
- The RCPsych warns that untreated postnatal depression, which affected almost 15 per cent of new mothers, can be “truly devastating” and lead to the “unnecessary” deaths of women and sometimes their babies.
- Maternal suicide is highlighted as the leading cause of death in women from six weeks to a year after birth.
- Symptoms can include persistent feelings of sadness, low mood, a lack of interest, trouble sleeping, and potentially thoughts of harming the baby.
- The RCPsych urges women and their partners to seek support for these treatable conditions, which can be managed with talking therapies or antidepressants, with medics assuring medication safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding.