Let's talk about perinatal depression.

There is no happier news than the news that you are going to become a mother. At the same time, many beautiful hopes come to mind. But this time is not the same for everyone. For some, this time can be an unimaginably stressful and sad experience. That is what we are going to talk about today. Because this is a serious topic that cannot be ignored and can play with lives.

What is pregnancy-related depression?

Simply put, in medicine, we call perinatal depression a state of depression that occurs in a mother during pregnancy or within the first year after giving birth.

This is a much more serious condition than the 'baby blues', which are just a little sad and go away in a couple of days. The sadness, anxiety, and hopelessness that you feel can last for weeks or months. It can affect your life to the point where you can't even do your daily tasks properly. If a doctor examines you and diagnoses you with depression, or prescribes medication to treat it, that's what we call ``Perinatal Depression''.

The sad truth revealed by the latest research

Two recent studies conducted on a large group of mothers in Sweden have revealed some very alarming facts about this. These research reports were even published in the world's most respected medical journals, ``JAMA Network Open`` and ``BMJ``.

Those studies show that mothers with this condition, ``Perinatal Depression,'' are about three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts and commit suicide than mothers without the condition. Imagine how serious that is.

Also, another scary thing that this study found is that this risk doesn't go away shortly after having a baby. They found that the risk remains high for a long time, like 18 years .

What is the risk? Let's see.

You can clearly understand this risk difference from the table below.

Why does this happen? Is it genetics?

Many people might think, "Oh... they have mental illnesses like that in their family" or "They must have had these problems before they got pregnant." But the surprising thing is that these studies have clearly shown that familial links are not the only cause of this increased risk. Also, the risk of this `perinatal depression` condition increases separately and independently, whether or not there was a mental illness before pregnancy.

This means that even if you have never had any mental health problems before, and no one in your family has a history of such problems, this condition and the associated risks may arise during pregnancy.

So what do we do? How do we escape this?

This is the most important thing. Although this condition is serious, it can be controlled and completely cured . Here are the things we must definitely do.

1. Don't hide your feelings, talk about them.

If you are feeling sad, lonely, stressed, or hopeless, please don't keep it to yourself. Talk to your husband, your mother, your father, your best friend, or anyone you trust. Also, be sure to talk to your Family Health Midwife, and especially your doctor .

2. Family support is essential

If you have a husband or family member reading this, this is for you. If your wife, daughter, or sister says something like this, don't dismiss it by saying, "That's just the way it is," "Don't worry about having a baby," or "Be strong." Instead, listen to her . Try to understand her. Help her get medical advice. Your support is her greatest strength.

3. Don't miss medical tests and treatments

Researchers especially emphasize the importance of screening for mental health before and after pregnancy. If your doctor asks you about this, be honest and don't hide your true feelings.

In an emergency, i.e. if suicidal thoughts are overwhelming, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately or tell someone you trust.