The good news is that there is growing awareness about perinatal mental health disorders, thanks to parents sharing their stories and experiences. Yet misinformation remains about perinatal mental health disorders. You can help dispel these myths to make sure all parents have the right information available.
Postpartum depression is one of many perinatal mental health disorders. Perinatal mental health disorders include depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and postpartum psychosis. Each of these disorders has a different set of symptoms. Also, parents may experience multiple disorders. For example, many parents will experience symptoms of both perinatal depression and anxiety. To learn more about the different perinatal mental health disorders, along with what signs to look out for, check out:
Half of women who experience postpartum depression also had depression symptoms during pregnancy. Likewise, women who experience anxiety during pregnancy are more likely to develop postpartum depression and/or anxiety. Overall, perinatal mental health disorders can appear anytime during pregnancy up to three years postpartum. This is why ongoing social support is so important because when a parent develops a perinatal mood disorder cannot be predicted.
If you read our intro above, you know this isn’t true! One in ten men will experience a perinatal mental health disorder. Adoptive and foster parents can also experience perinatal mental health disorders. These parents can feel incredibly lonely and experience deep shame because they hear fewer stories and receive minimal outreach and education about perinatal mood disorders.
Perinatal mental health disorders require treatment to improve health and well-being for the entire family unit. This myth probably stems from confusing “baby blues” with perinatal mood disorders. Nine in ten moms will experience the “baby blues”, which is a rollercoaster of moods that can last up to two weeks after giving birth. The body’s hormone levels adjust rapidly after birth, which can cause a whirlwind of emotions. “Baby blues” are temporary because of this short-term hormone reset.
In contrast, perinatal mental health disorders last longer than two weeks and interfere with a parent’s day-to-day behavior. They do not go away on their own, which is why seeking treatment is critical. You can find local perinatal mental health resources through these sites:
Additionally, there are two national hotlines available to support parents with mental health challenges via phone or text in both English and Spanish:
Some factors can increase the risk for perinatal mental health disorders, including trauma, history of mental health disorders, and lack of social support. At the same time, one in eight women will experience their first mental health complication during pregnancy or early parenthood. Because parents face shame and fear stigma related to perinatal mental health, family and friends need to check in on parents’ emotional well-being throughout pregnancy and early parenthood. Check out our article How to be a Maternal Mental Health Ally to learn more about how to support the parents in your communities.
Parents with perinatal mental health disorders love their babies as much as any other parent. Perinatal mental health disorders are caused by chemical imbalances, hormonal fluctuations, and other psychological and environmental factors. These psychological imbalances can cause individuals to believe that they are not or cannot be good parents. This is fundamentally untrue. The reality is that parents with mental health disorders need access to treatment to thrive.
At Moment for Parents, we envision a world where no parent suffers silently from perinatal mood disorders. A critical step in turning this vision into reality is dispelling the myths that might prevent parents from accessing the support they need. Share these myth-busters to your community to help us make sure parents have the right information and resources to care for their mental health!