By Chrystal Blair
September was Suicide Prevention Month and a Michigan doctor is sharing hope for mothers struggling with what is often called the “baby blues.”
One in five new moms experiences postpartum depression and experts say 20% of them face suicidal thoughts or attempts at self-harm. The stigma surrounding mental health has long deterred many from seeking help.
Dr. Kurt Rodney Wharton, OB/GYN at Corewell Health and a professor at Oakland University, said there’s now a medication called zuranolone, approved just last summer, enabling mothers to receive essential care in the privacy of their own homes.
“We’re hopeful that utilization will be much, much higher, so we can reach out and positively treat and impact women,” Wharton explained. “Because the disease doesn’t impact just the patient. It impacts the relationship between the patient and her baby, the relationship between the patient and other children and her spouse.”
People experiencing postpartum depression are also encouraged to seek support from family, friends or an Employee Assistance Program, which could provide confidential access to a behavioral health clinician.
Medical professionals warned certain people, including those with anxiety, mood disorders or a family history of depression, are at significantly higher risk for postpartum depression.
Dr. Donna O’Shea, OB/GYN and chief medical officer for population health at UnitedHealthcare, added those in under-resourced communities also face a higher risk.
“There are some women who have little or no social support,” O’Shea pointed out. “If someone has a history or is currently using substances like drugs or alcohol, they will face higher risks, with the pregnancy and after a pregnancy.”
She emphasized the critical need for increased public awareness about postpartum depression and for people who struggle with it to understand it is OK to talk about how they are feeling, even when it is tough.
