Biologically postpartum depression was a way for a mother to pull emotionally away from a baby that wasn't working hard enough to engage mom. Some scientists believe this was a way for mothers to stop giving precious resources to babies who weren't going to make it.
This probably made sense when we were primitive humans struggling for our very existence. It also fostered the role of family and community by making sure mothers had the support they needed to help raise the next generation of humans.
Fast forward to today where we have single moms having to work and raise kids with little help from anyone, and daycare more expensive than ever. It is no wonder that this article nails home the huge negative affect a mother's depression has on the well being of her children.
When they look at kids who fail in school they find the number of words spoken to them before they could talk was a fraction of what it is in successful kids. Having a mom who ignores your needs has HUGE impacts on society - it is no wonder mental health issues, opioid abuse and mass shootings dominate our news headlines.
The writer's call for more screening for depression in mothers is something that should be at the forefront of mental health funding. It is also something that should be reflected in building communities through public policy, architecture, family and community support for new mothers, etc.
I just hope the service for treating PPD is free for those who can't afford it. Otherwise it would only worsen their depression.
Biologically postpartum depression was a way for a mother to pull emotionally away from a baby that wasn't working hard enough to engage mom. Some scientists believe this was a way for mothers to stop giving precious resources to babies who weren't going to make it.
This probably made sense when we were primitive humans struggling for our very existence. It also fostered the role of family and community by making sure mothers had the support they needed to help raise the next generation of humans.
Fast forward to today where we have single moms having to work and raise kids with little help from anyone, and daycare more expensive than ever. It is no wonder that this article nails home the huge negative affect a mother's depression has on the well being of her children.
When they look at kids who fail in school they find the number of words spoken to them before they could talk was a fraction of what it is in successful kids. Having a mom who ignores your needs has HUGE impacts on society - it is no wonder mental health issues, opioid abuse and mass shootings dominate our news headlines.
The writer's call for more screening for depression in mothers is something that should be at the forefront of mental health funding. It is also something that should be reflected in building communities through public policy, architecture, family and community support for new mothers, etc.