The birth of a baby is typically associated with feelings of wonder, joy, and happiness. However, for some new mothers, this period can be overshadowed by sadness, crying spells, restlessness and anxiety.
This period often termed “baby blues” occurs within the first few weeks after delivery, due to hormonal changes.
While this is normal for most mothers, some experience a more prolonged version, termed postpartum depression (PPD), a common yet frequently overlooked mental health condition.
A 30-year-old mother, candidly shared her journey through post-partum depression, shedding light on the challenges and struggles she faced during this difficult period.
Recounting her experience, she constantly felt overwhelmed eventually leading her to contemplate the unthinkable – suicide.
“I was happy one minute, then I was sad, and I think what made it worse is that I was always tired, I was always exhausted”.
“The exhaustion is from your head to your toe. You can’t explain but you don’t feel like you’re in your body anymore. I didn’t feel like I was myself and I felt like I didn’t even know myself anymore and it was like no one also wanted to hear me out. I had told my spouse about it several times but I guess he didn’t understand the severity of my plight. They got to understand the situation when I decided to take my life. Yes, I wanted to commit suicide.”
“That fateful day, I remember locking up myself in a room, and it took the grace of God because my daughter kept crying. Before doing that, I sent a message to one of my friends who had just had a baby that I was tired and didn’t want to do this anymore. It was after then that she and my husband rushed into my house to rescue me”.
Maternal mental health encompasses a mother’s emotional, social, and mental well-being during and after pregnancy. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 15.6% of women experience maternal mental health symptoms during pregnancy, while 19.8% experience them after childbirth. Despite the prevalence of these symptoms, many affected mothers fail to receive the necessary attention due to a lack of awareness or societal stigma.
Here in Ghana, issues of mental health are often disregarded, swept under the carpet, and deemed unimportant. The reaction to these cases mostly stems from societal structures that reduce the emotions and feelings of individuals as unimportant and prevent them from truly expressing themselves and accessing the help they need.
In the case of mothers, society often expects them to be happy following the delivery of their babies, but that may not always be the case. In some instances, spouses and family relatives tend to focus all their attention on the newborn, neglecting the emotional needs of the mother.
Mothers then have to navigate hormonal imbalances and bodily transitions from pregnancy to non-pregnancy alone, while adjusting to their new roles, which can be overwhelming.
As a country, we have not prioritized mental health generally, including maternal mental health, which is a sad situation. To change this narrative, several steps can be taken:
1. General Education on Mental Health & Postpartum Depression: Society can play a crucial role in educating the public about maternal mental health to enable early recognition, understanding, and appropriate handling of symptoms. In Ghana, where cultural beliefs often attribute mental health issues to witchcraft or spirituality, a comprehensive sensitization campaign is essential to dispel such misconceptions and encourage seeking proper assistance.
Often, mothers turn to their spouses or relatives as their primary confidants when facing postpartum depression. However, these individuals may struggle to fully comprehend the depth of the mothers’ experiences, leading to the trivialization of their emotions. This lack of understanding can exacerbate the mothers’ distress and even contribute to self-harm tendencies.
Educating spouses and relatives about the realities of postpartum depression can significantly alleviate the stress faced by mothers during this challenging period. By fostering empathy and providing adequate support, loved ones can play a vital role in the recovery process. No mother should have to endure postpartum depression alone-she deserves unwavering support and attention from her social network during this critical time.
2. Assessing the Current Situation and Addressing Issues:
Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive data to accurately identify the number of mothers experiencing postpartum depression in Ghana. Therefore, it is imperative for the Mental Health Authority to undertake a nationwide analysis to assess the prevalence of this condition and identify gaps in the current treatment landscape. By conducting research and surveys, we can gain valuable insights into the severity of this issue and develop targeted interventions to address it effectively.
I urge the Mental Health Authority to initiate intensive investigations into postpartum depression to generate reliable statistics that will provide a clear understanding of the scope of the problem. This data will serve as a foundation for implementing evidence-based strategies to curb postpartum depression and improve maternal mental health outcomes across the country.
3. Integration of Mental Health into Antenatal Care:
Antenatal care, also known as pregnancy care or maternity care, plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and well-being of pregnant women. While these sessions typically focus on physical health and preparation for childbirth, there is a notable absence of mental health support within antenatal care services in Ghana.
It is essential to incorporate mental health screening and support into antenatal care to address the psychological needs of expectant mothers. By integrating mental health assessments and counseling sessions into routine antenatal visits, healthcare professionals can identify and address potential risk factors for postpartum depression and other mental health concerns.
This holistic approach to antenatal care not only ensures that mothers are physically prepared for childbirth but also provides them with the necessary psychological support to navigate the challenges of pregnancy and early motherhood. By prioritizing mental health within antenatal care, we can enhance maternal well-being and improve outcomes for both mothers and their babies.
4. Encourage Mothers to Seek Help: Help is readily available, and experiencing these challenges is not your fault. Hormonal changes and various psycho-social factors can contribute to these feelings, and it’s important to recognize that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
There are resources available across the country to assist you in coping with postpartum depression (PPD). Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is often the primary treatment for PPD. This involves working with a mental health professional to explore your thoughts and emotions, develop coping strategies, and set achievable goals. In more severe cases of PPD, your doctor may recommend antidepressant medication or help you choose an alternative treatment plan.
By implementing these recommendations, stakeholders can contribute to improving maternal mental health support.
To all mothers, remember that help is available, and you are not alone in your struggles. Reach out and seek the assistance you need-you are loved, cherished, and essential to your baby’s well-being.
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