BLOG: POSTNATAL DEPRESSION !
Have you or has someone close to you ever suffered from Postnatal Depression?
I have and it is an appalling experience. I was fortunate to not be so seriously affected as to need a medical intervention, but I have friends who have not been so lucky.
One in five NZ woman experience postnatal depression, and recent reports highlight the fact that in a number of regions in NZ, woman needing a health intervention for postnatal depression, are having to wait up to four months for treatment!
Debbie Wilson, a psychiatrist at Canturbury District Health Board's mother and baby unit stated that long waiting lists were putting babies at risk and their long-term development and academic achievement.... In those formative times, the single most important aspect is the emotional state of their mother".
The problem seems to be inadequate funding resulting in an inability of units like the one in Canterbury to hold on to staff.
As we enter the'baby-kissing' season lets hope that these sort of matters become election priorities.
