NatChat July 2017

* Mental Health Myths *
Myth #1: Pregnancy is a
happy time; pregnant women
don’t get depressed
Pregnancy is a happy time but
depression and anxiety are
common mental health issues
during pregnancy and after
birth. Pregnancy is generally
seen as a time of happiness
and excitement. Depression
doesn't always manifest itself
in the emotion of sadness; it
can also present itself through
feeling an utter lack of motivation
or worthless.
Be open about how
you’re feeling with your GP,
partner, friends and/or family;
it’s so important not to hide
your emotions if you are feeling
low or struggling.
Myth #2: It’s just the ‘baby
blues’, I’m fine
It could be the ‘baby blues’,
which can leave some mums
feeling emotional, irritable,
low and/or tearful within the
first few days or weeks after
giving birth but, if symptoms
persist or worsen, begin at a
later stage, or even in pregnancy,
it can be something
more serious, such as antenatal
depression (AND), postnatal
depression (PND) or posttraumatic
stress disorder
(PTSD). There’s a danger this
can be labelled as the ‘baby
blues’, and therefore many
mums don’t seek help.
We are about encouraging
parents to talk more
openly about maternal mental
health, to avoid the mistake of
dismissing potentially serious
mental health issues in themselves,
friends or family, and
to seek help.
Myth #3: If I’m diagnosed
with a mental health issue,
my baby will be taken away
from me
This is a huge misconception
that prevents many new mums
from seeking help sooner.
When diagnosed with a mental
health issue like PND,
your GP will be focussed on
getting you better by offering
medication and/or counselling.
The aim of healthcare
professionals is to keep families
together. Perinatal mental
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