One in eight women suffer from postpartum depression

SALT LAKE CITY — About one in eight women suffer from postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression includes symptoms of fatigue and psychosis soon after giving birth. 

The most common causes of death among postpartum mothers are suicide and drug overdoses.

Intermountain Behavioral Health Clinical Manager, Kimberly Myers says there are ways to get help.

“One really effective therapeutic intervention is cognitive behavioral therapy. There’s lots of research that shows that research that shows that it can be a very effective intervention for postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety,” she said.

A support system from family and friends is extremely important in helping new mothers recover, Myers says.

“If women are struggling postpartum, be willing to have those conversations around are you having thoughts of suicide, are [you] using drugs or alcohol to cope with the stressors that they are experiencing, and definitely give them the support that they need.” 

She says some warning signs of postpartum depression include intense rage, feelings of not being able to care for a baby, or trouble forming an emotional attachment with the child.

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