A nurse was at home and scrolling through social media when she noticed an acquaintance of hers wasn’t doing so well. The woman had recently had a baby and had been posting baby photos, but when the nurse who we’ll call “Judy” looked at the text below the photos, it was clear this new mom was feeling something beyond sadness.
“I’d been following her social media posts more closely over a period of a few weeks when I noticed she sounded increasingly depressed,” says Judy. “While I normally just look at photos and don’t add comments, I decided to ask if she was getting professional help.”
The mom and Judy later ended up exchanging numbers and having a conversation that lasted for hours. Judy says, “We talked about how postpartum depression is a serious problem. This led to talking about medications and where to go for help. Judy realized this mom hadn’t gotten good follow-up from her doctor’s office. She was on antidepressants, but they didn’t appear to be working for her. She said she didn’t feel like herself.”
Judy offered to send some information about postpartum depression, and she worked with a social worker to gather up resources for this mom.
“This topic has so much stigma around it, yet postpartum depression is a medical condition,” says Judy. “A lot of women end up being suicidal and losing their lives. I lost a friend to it myself years ago. I want people to know it’s a real problem.”
Morissa Henn, Community Health director, says all of us can learn from Judy’s example by initiating more open conversations with friends and family.
According to a recent KSL news article, the Utah Department of Health released a report on postpartum depression showing that nearly 43 percent of Utah moms who’d recently given birth were affected by depression and anxiety. That includes Utah First Lady Abby Palmer Cox, who spoke about her experience with postpartum issues. She says, “With my third baby it was something that hit me really hard, and frankly, I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t have the language for it.”
Judy says she’s not surprised to hear postpartum depression impacts so many women. “The women I know who’ve dealt with it are so emotionally distraught they might not make that phone call to get help. They need help earlier and they need follow up,” she says.
Morissa Henn, Community Health director, says, “Depression and anxiety during and after pregnancy is common among both mothers and fathers, and can be successfully addressed with a variety of prevention and treatment approaches. All of us can learn from Judy’s example by initiating more open conversations with our friends and family, ensuring that fewer parents suffer in silence.”
Indeed, one misconception about postpartum depression is what it means to get help, which is something that affected Judy’s friend. “This mom had so many worries, including that if she tried to get help, her baby could be taken away,” says Judy. “She also thought she was going to be labeled as a crazy person. I helped her understand this was definitely not the case.”
With the help of the social worker, Judy helped this mom see she had options, including being seen by a professional at one of Intermountain’s Behavioral Health Access Centers, which are open 24/7.
“She did receive help, including new medication and counselling appointments,” Judy says. “Since then, she’s mentioned that even though she’s still not 100 percent herself, she’s feeling better.”
Judy adds, “I think it’s good to remember, especially when it comes to social media, that sometimes people ask for help in ways we might not expect. We might see a call for help, even if it’s subtle. It’s important to reach out; it can save someone’s life.”
Helpful resources: