2023-10-08 10:04:30
08 October 2023, 03:34 PM IST
Representative Image| Photo: Canva.com
Postpartum depression is depression that occurs in women following giving birth. Many mothers go through postpartum depression. It can last until the end of pregnancy and a few months following the baby is born. It is estimated that one in nine mothers suffer from postpartum depression. But a new study has clarified that postpartum depression is seen not only in mothers but also in fathers.
According to the study, regarding 8 to 18 percent of fathers are affected by postpartum depression. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago are behind the study. The researchers say that fathers should also undergo postpartum depression screening. B.M.C. The study was published in the journal Pregnancy and Childbirth.
The researchers arrived at the assessment following interviewing and screening the fathers who participated in the study. The study found that the risk of postpartum depression among them was thirty percent. The researchers here also adopted the same methods for the diagnosis of postpartum depression in mothers.
Researchers have found that many fathers face stress and fear following having their first child, and face challenges in balancing work, parenting and partner responsibilities. These then lead to depression. “Because men struggle with this in silence, no one asks regarding their mental state,” says Dr. Sam Wayne Wright, who led the study.
The risk of postpartum depression doubles in women who experience partner disappointment. Sam says that even though they are going through a lot of stress, many people don’t open up regarding it as a supporter of their wife. Sam says the situation is exacerbated by the reluctance of many people to seek professional services.
solutions
If detected early, this problem can be solved at home.
Researchers have found that talk therapy is very effective in treating depression. Eat properly. Exercise daily. Sleep well at night. If your baby’s crying disturbs your sleep, take a short nap during the day. Abstain from intoxicants including alcohol. If depression does not go away following doing all these things, consult a psychologist before the problem becomes serious.
1696760729
#Stress #internalized #expressed #study #finds #fathers #suffer #postnatal #depression
