Mental Health: Postpartum Depression

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This week I got to study the critical issue of mental health. Specifically, I got to look at postpartum depression. Mental health is something that needs to be taken seriously. While the term means many different things and there are many forms of mental health, all cases should be treated to help the patient be their best self. I knew the general concept of postpartum depression, but I learned how it affects everyone in a family unit, including the mother, father, and siblings. While this is very common after birth, everyone suffers from it in their own unique way. I learned about symptoms that are common for this. Some symptoms for women can include hopelessness, withdrawal, lack of energy, and feeling no connection with the newborn baby (Mayo Clinic, 2022). Men experience symptoms such as fatigue, lack of appetite, worry, and sleepless nights. Treatment options can vary depending on the severity of the case. Many times anti-anxiety medication or antidepressants are needed to treat an individual. Other times, treatment can include support groups with people who are also going through the same situation (Fulghum, 2022). This can be really helpful as people can see that they are not alone and people are also experiencing this situation. No one should ever feel alone in their struggles.

I really like the two images above because I think they are a good depiction on how postpartum depression can affect mothers. The one image demonstrates a woman with her baby inside of a cage. Having a baby increases one's hormones which can trigger new emotions. She feels alone and trapped with her emotions (Nazarova, 2022). While mothers do not want to feel this way after having a baby, this is a very common experience. The other image depicts a woman with her child not having a coherent thought. Motherhood is a learning experience. Sometimes one does not know the right decision and after birth when hormones are still changing, this can be very traumatic (Keronn, 2022). This topic is also incredibly common and not discussed enough. There is a stigma behind mental health issues and it needs to be broken because talking about them and receiving the help that is needed is very beneficial and can prevent permanent unhappiness and damage.

As a future educator, this situation may come up for my students. Siblings can also feel the effects of postpartum depression occurring in the household. A new child can be very stressful to begin with, as it is an adjustment to the family dynamic. While parents can be suffering from postpartum depression, a child may feel a sense of responsibility for the change in their parent's behavior. It is important to be reassuring to a student that it takes time for everyone to adjust and that they are not to blame for the change in dynamic. Children may begin to suffer from anxiety, depression, or anger because of the situation. Teachers can notice the change in the behavior happening at school and recommend counseling. For teachers of teenagers, the student may be the one who just had the baby and is suffering from postpartum depression. When this occurs, it is best to make the adjustment back into school as normal as possible to not cause any more unnecessary stress. Being a listening ear is sometimes all a student needs to heal. Feeling heard can be the best medicine.

When I do have my own classroom, I am aware that other mental health issues may present themselves inside the classroom.  Some may include ADHD, eating disorders, and social anxiety (Anderson, 2016).  What I can do as a teacher is prepare myself with what the symptoms may be for these issues.  Knowing about all the symptoms and more about each mental illness, I will know how to guide my students in the best path that is right for them with treatment and getting them the help they need.  Most likely, one of these situations will present itself at some point when I am a teacher.  All I can do is prepare myself and give myself the best resources to be able to assist in any way I can to help my students get to a state of comfort and happiness. 

References

Postpartum depression - Symptoms and causes. (2022). Retrieved 16 October 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617


Fulghum, D. (2022). An Overview of Postpartum Depression. Retrieved 16 October 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/postpartum-depression


Nazarova, N. (2022). Postnatal, Postpartum Depression [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/postnatal-postpartum-depression-tired-mother-with-infant-gm1310212368-399691991



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