Postnatal depression is much more widespread than people may realise
Postnatal depression is much more common than many people may realise and can also affect men, Kate Whitehead discovers
For anyone who thinks postnatal depression is due to hormones and only affects women, listen up. While hormones and genetics definitely come into play, social factors and environmental stress are equally important. Men suffer from the condition, too.
It's not unusual for women to feel teary and emotional in the first week after delivery, but if the "baby blues" last more than two weeks, then it's time to seek professional help - the sooner, the better.
It's difficult to engage men and convince them it's not a problem of weakness of character
Postnatal depression is much more common than many people realise; 10 to 15 per cent of women worldwide are affected, though the severity may range from minor symptoms to psychotic depression. About 5 per cent of Hong Kong Chinese fathers are affected, according to Dr Dominic Lee Tak-shing's study published in the Hong Kong Medical Journal in 2011.
It's a form of clinical depression that's usually associated with symptoms such as sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, poor concentration, fatigue and suicidal thoughts, says Dr Vivian Ngai Fei-wan, assistant professor at University of Hong Kong's School of Nursing.
"Research suggests that environmental factors can have a severe impact, such as a poor marital relationship, a lack of social support and stress in taking care of the child and the household," says Ngai, adding that a history of depression is a confirmed risk factor.
Research evidence shows that symptoms of postnatal depression decrease over time - but depression remains a long-term problem for 30 per cent to 50 per cent of affected women, according to a report in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry published last week. These findings from researchers at the University of Leuven, Belgium, were based on review of studies on postnatal depression from 1985 to 2012.