Digital mental health for postpartum women: perils, pitfalls, and promise
Natalie Feldman, Sarah Perret
Abstract
Postpartum mental health conditions are a public health concern, affecting many reproductive-age women and their families. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that symptoms of postpartum depression, the most commonly studied postpartum mental heath condition, were found in about 13% of women with a recent live birth 1 . Globally, that number may be even higher for postpartum depression, and is less well-defined for other postpartum mental health conditions 2 . Extensive research has shown the negative impacts of untreated postpartum mental health conditions on both mother and child 3 . Women with postpartum depression have been found to have worse physical health, more difficulties in social relationships, and a higher risk of engaging in substance use 3 . Maternal depression has also been associated with childhood developmental changes; although the results here are less clear, studies suggest there may be impacts in areas including emotional development, physical growth, and fine motor and language development 4 , 5 , 6 . Postpartum depression is also linked with an increase in mortality: suicide accounts for 1 in 5 deaths in postpartum women 7 .