Mental Health Of Families/ Postpartum Depression

     Of all the health topics related to child development, I chose mental health because I feel it effects so many of the other categories. At the same time, it is so broad of a topic, I narrowed it down to postpartum depression. Overall, I feel the mental health of the entire family and father/ husband also greatly effect a child's health and development, but I focused in depression primarily in new mothers while doing my research.

      This topic interests me because my family has a history of mental illness, as do I. I have not had a child yet, and I am anxious/ curious/ hoping that I do not suffer from any postpartum depression or even depression while I am pregnant. I cannot imagine what it would be like to feel like that when I have a new baby that is completely dependent on my well-being. It is often noted that women who have a history of depression or mental illness may suffer from postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis. But other factors include socioeconomic status, poor relationship with a spouse or loved one, and lack of education (Doucet, Dennis, Letourneau, & Blackmore, 2009). I am lucky in that those environmental factors would not be an issue to add to my own health status. 

       I researched some postpartum facts in Lima, Peru. The article was alarming because they contribute the relationship with the "intimate partner" (Gomez-Beloz, A., Williams, M., Sanchez, S., & Lam, N., 2009) to be a large factor in the women suffering from postpartum depression. It is believed that the low economic level of many families in Peru, with added alcohol abuse and work stress, creates violence within families. Women often lose babies due to violence, and therefore live in a state of depression due to the stress of their lives (Gomeaz-Beloz, et al., 2009). 

        It may seem obvious that the mental state of those around you will effect your life, and the same thing with your children. I'm sitting here trying to think of situations I've had in the classroom. I don't know how I would ever know a parent was having a problem, unless it was very obvious. There was a child in another class where the mother admitted she was suffering from postpartum after the birth of her second child, and the extreme attachment that her older child (in our school) had towards her was something that had to be worked out. Personally, I've suggested parents have their kids stay for lunch if they seem tired; I've given moms hugs if they seem frustrated; and I've offered my help if I know there is a particular situation going on (when another parent was hospitalized I offered to watch their son after school). I want to continue doing this in the future, and maybe be on the lookout for other signs that something deeper is going on. But I don't want to jump to conclusions.

        In the future, I am going to stay committed to keeping positive people in my life, people who will not be negative towards anything going on in my life. It seems ridiculous to think, but I can think of so many people who keep negative relationships in their life just because. I'm not just talking about intimate relationships, either. 

Resources:

Doucet, S., Dennis, C.L., Letourneau, N., & Blackmore, E.. (2009). Differentiation and clinical implications of postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, 38, 269-79. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/.

Gomez-Beloz, A., Williams, M., Sanchez, S., & Lam, N. (2009). Intimate partner violence and risk for depression among postpartum women in Lima, Peru. Violence and Victims, 24, 380-398. Retrieved from  http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/.