Depression
By Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, May 18, 2018 (NAN) Experts say that life changes around pregnancy make women more vulnerable to mental illnesses like Postpartum Depression (PPD), hence the need to raise awareness and put in measures to give help, treatment and support.
The experts made the assertion at a conference on Maternal Mental Health organised by the Postpartum Support Network Africa (PSN Africa) in Lagos, with theme: “Looking Beyond the Stigma’’.
A Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Femi Olugbile, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Postpartum or Postnatal Depression can happen to any woman.
“Its prevalence is about one in every 10 new mothers; women who miscarry or whose babies are stillborn are also vulnerable to postpartum depression.
“It is a very common condition among women and unfortunately, it is very little recognised among our people,’’ Olugbile, a former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, said.
“The general statistics is that about one in five or one in 10 of women who have children , especially first timers, will suffer from some category of postnatal depression,’’ he said.
He describes PPD as a type of mood or mental disorder associated with childbirth and the symptoms include low energy, disinterest, and extreme sadness, anxiety, crying episodes, irritability and changes in sleeping or eating patterns.
On how to recognise the symptoms, he said: “Symptoms can appear any time during pregnancy and the first six or more months after childbirth.
“Risk factors may include unintended pregnancy, lack of social support, exposure to physical or sexual violence, poverty and factors that may not be explainable.
“Right now, the condition of Nigeria is that most of the people who have postnatal depression are not being recognised; even the few that are recognised are not being effectively treated.’’
Olugbile said that picking out PPD often required specialised attention in the form of skilled psychotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy.
According to him, a large number of the patients will require medication from the psychiatrist in addition to that or in lieu of it.
Also, Mr Onyedikachi Ekwerike, Founder, PSN Africa, says: “PPD can lead to further degeneration of a woman’s mental stability, psychosis and even suicide.
“To the children, they may develop behavioral challenges, become anti-social, withdrawn, moody and end up as social misfits or troubled children and adults.
“If a child is not properly raised or behaving well because the mother is depressed, it has unpleasant consequences on the family and nation,’’ he said.
Ekwerike said that the solution to addressing PPD and other maternal mental health issues will include improved access to maternal mental healthcare for women in Nigeria.
“So far, there is little or nothing being done to educate or support these women about this sensitive period, especially in Nigeria.
“Key stakeholders need to be engaged to raise awareness about postpartum depression among women in Nigeria.
“Also, women have to start sharing their real life experiences of how they overcame postpartum depression and how they benefited from support groups.
“On our part, PSN Africa is at the forefront of providing support for families and women struggling with PPD, especially in rural places to create awareness, screen them and connect them to therapy,’’ Ekwerike said.
Dr Dorothy Jeff-Nnamani, a Public Health Specialist, advocated for the need for maternal mental health screenings and evaluations as part of maternal health drives.
According to her, there is the need for a more integrated health system whereby doctors will not function in silos but in a collaborative way to detect signs and sends to appropriate institutions for help.
“Maternal mental health and postpartum depression should be discussed during antenatal classes and clinics related to reproduction and maternal issues.
“For example, some of the women that come for family planning are actually undergoing postpartum depression and they don’t have help whereas at this point, you can arrest it.
“There are also women, who during pregnancy, have mental health related issues and because they are seeing the gynaecologist, it is seen as unease during pregnancy, whereas it may be onset of a mental health challenge.
“It is important to train the instructors, nurses, midwives, family planning providers and even gynecologists on how to identify the basic tell-tale signs of maternal mental health challenge, including PPD and afterwards make referrals,’’ she said.
Mrs Evelyn Coker, a PPD survivor, told NAN that a mother suffering from the condition following childbirth needs enhanced emotional support.
“Partners, spouses, family members and friends should be there to encourage and give her emotional and physical support, as well as spiritual support.
“Often times, women don’t even know what is happening to them, as was my case; thank God I had supportive and knowledgeable friends.
“Also, women should be sensitised on maternal mental health disorders; this will go a long way in preparing them for such eventualities, if they occur,’’ she said. (NAN)
VIV/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)