This article summarised what perinatal anxiety and depression is, risk factors and feelings to be aware of.
Depression and anxiety during pregnancy and the first year of parenting (the perinatal period) affects on average 20% of mothers and 10% of fathers globally. Many of these parents continue their everyday life, including their employment, with those around them unaware of their suffering.
Perinatal anxiety and depression doesn’t discriminate, and can affect women and men from all walks of life. It has a huge impact on a person’s life, and if undiagnosed and untreated, can lead to suicidal thoughts.
Those experiencing it can feel fatigued, a sense of being out of control, distant from those around them, stressed, guilty, overwhelmed and unable to concentrate.
The common pressures of the workplace can exasperate these existing feelings, and so it is important that employers support their employees at these transitional, often stressful, stages of life.
Emotional wellbeing – what should you be looking for?
When a new baby/child arrives, it is easy for parents to forget to look after themselves, or even find any time to spend together or alone.
Some of the risk factors for perinatal depression and anxiety can include:
- Lack of emotional and/or practical support from family and friends
- Lack of support or understanding from a partner
- Stress related to finances, work or moving to a new house
- Certain personality types e.g. a perfectionist personality
- Previous mental health issues or family history of issues
- Trauma background
- Recent bereavement
- Age less than 18 years of over 35 years
- Coming from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander culture
- Living in a rural or remote location
- Being from a culturally and linguistically diverse background
Feelings to be aware of:
- Feeling like you can’t cope
- Feeling sadder than usual
- Constant worrying
- Feeling worthless
- No longer interested in your baby, partner, or friends
- Finding it harder to do daily tasks
- More worried than usual, and it has lasted more than two weeks
- Experiencing changes in appetite
- Loss of concentration
- Losing interest in sex or intimacy
- Extended periods of irritability and anger