Why Postpartum Depression and Other Perinatal (MPR News)

Listen at: https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2024/06/12/why-postpartum-depression-and-other-perinatal-mood-disorders-so-often-go-untreated 

Perinatal mood disorders — such as postpartum depression and anxiety — are the most common complications during and after pregnancy.

They impact one in five women. Yet 75 percent of those disorders go untreated. And they can have deadly consequences, such as suicide and overdoses.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talked about why perinatal mood disorders are so common, and the barriers that keep many new parents from seeking and receiving the help they need.

Dr. Kim shared resources for new parents:

• Postpartum Support International Helpline

• National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

• Redleaf Center for Family Healing

Guests:  

• Kyra Miles is the early childhood education reporter for MPR News. She recently reported on perinatal mood disorders in collaboration with Call to Mind, MPR’s mental health initiative.

• Dr. Helen Kim is a reproductive psychiatrist and director of the Hennepin Healthcare Mother-Baby Program and Redleaf Center for Family Healing.