According to WHO data, 800,000 people commit suicide every year in the world, being the third leading cause of death among young people between 15 and 19 years old. But this harsh reality can also occur in stages of life that are socially considered “the happiest”, as is the case of the perinatal period, a stage that ranges from pregnancy to one year after delivery.
This has been stated by Susana Al-Halabí, professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Oviedo and coordinator of the symposia “Empirically supported psychological treatments: review and reflection” and “Suicidal behavior: improving the continuum of intervention to reduce the gaps”, held within the framework of the V National Congress of Psychology (CNP2021 Virtual).
The expert warns that suicide is the leading cause of death for women in the perinatal period and points out the need for all health professionals in contact with women in these sensitive stages of life to have comprehensive training in suicidal behavior, in order to detect any sign of alarm and intervene early.
Pregnancy and postpartum, two especially sensitive life stages
Pregnancy and postpartum are two especially sensitive and vulnerable stages of life , since multiple factors come into play such as hormonal changes, transformation of the body itself, fears and doubts about the new stage that is beginning, fatigue, stress, new responsibilities, changes in the mood … All this, together with other risk factors specific to each woman, could end up leading to anxiety and depression , the most common health complications during and after pregnancy.
Thus, research suggests that one in four women suffers from depression and anxiety during pregnancy, while one in seven suffers from depression after giving birth. Doctors, gynecologists and mental health professionals have long been warning of this harsh reality , which has been especially aggravated in this last year of the pandemic.
Unfortunately, depression is sometimes accompanied by suicidal thoughts. Specifically, during postpartum studies have identified up to 6.6% of women at risk of suicidal behavior , although these thoughts can begin to occur even from pregnancy.
Not surprisingly, according to Susana Al-Halabí in her article “Suicidal behavior and the perinatal period”, during pregnancy the prevalence of suicidal ideas can be even higher than in the rest of the population, in addition to being a predictive factor of what it can occur later in the postpartum period.
Therefore, mental health experts such as Susana Al-Halabí, seek to focus on this reality from two points of view. On the one hand, raising awareness in society and all health professionals (not only psychologists or psychiatrists) about the relationship between suicide and motherhood , because unfortunately it exists, although little is said about it. And on the other hand, it is essential to work on preventive interventions during this period of women’s lives, in order to detect early signs of depression and suicidal behavior.
Postpartum depression, warning sign
The birth of a child is something wonderful, but it also tends to cause sadness, worry and above all, fatigue. It is normal for most women to experience what is known as the “baby blues” or postpartum blues, which usually lasts for a few weeks. It is characterized by feelings of discomfort, irritability, melancholy or anxiety in the first days after delivery
However, when this feeling persists over time, it can trigger postpartum depression, a more common disorder than we think, affecting one in six women who give birth. What you have to understand is that it is not a superficial thought, but that depression involves neurochemical and hormonal changes that change the way the brain works .
According to the WHO:
“People with depression often have several of the following symptoms : loss of energy; changes in appetite; need to sleep more or less than normal; anxiety; decreased concentration; indecision; restlessness; feeling of worthlessness, guilt or hopelessness ; and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. “
When a woman suffers from postpartum depression, she feels great concern for the safety, health and well-being of the newborn, obsessive ideas and fear of harming the baby arise, as well as thoughts about her ability in her new role as mother. There may also be disinterest and apathy and sometimes even a desire to kill oneself.
There are studies that indicate the presence of certain risk factors that could complicate postpartum depression, taking it one step further and leading to suicidal ideations. These include having suffered abuse in childhood, having had (before or during pregnancy) major depression, alcohol consumption and substance abuse, having or having had anxiety disorders or bipolar disorder.
How to help a woman with depression during pregnancy or postpartum?
Since the mother is not always capable of recognizing the problem and / or asking for help – either out of fear of misunderstanding, stigmatization or social rejection, or for other reasons – the health professionals who care for her during pregnancy and postpartum should not only look after your physical health and that of the baby, but also emotional health.
Likewise, it is important that the woman’s environment is attentive to possible warning signs that may indicate the existence of depression. In these cases, it is essential to support the mother physically and emotionally (offering to take care of the baby so that she can rest, helping her with day-to-day logistics, doing tribe in raising children, encouraging her to express herself from empathy and without lawsuits ..), in addition to seeking professional help.
But if, in addition, suicidal thoughts are detected , either in the form of verbalized ideas or explicit manifestations of the desire to “end it all”, act immediately by bringing the case to the attention of the family doctor, the midwife or a professional of the mental health.
Via | Medical Writing
More information | Suicidal behavior and the perinatal period: between taboo and misunderstanding
In Babies and More | A mother shows what her fight against postpartum depression looks like and what her fight against postpartum depression really is, Depression in pregnancy and postpartum increases the risk of depression in adolescents by 70%,
