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Mental Health HomepageConditions LibraryConditions CategoryConditions CategoryIt’s Time to Screen All Pregnant Women for Depression
Table of Contents:OverviewWhat Do Mental Health Professionals Think?
DepressionRead Time: 3 Minutes
Published On: August 12, 2022
Updated On: November 3, 2023
Overview
We all knowpostpartum depressionis a serious issue, but many people do not know about peripartum depression: symptoms of depression during pregnancy, especially in the weeks approaching birth.
The task force gave their recommendation a “B” rating, meaning they believe the Affordable Care Act should cover these depression screenings. This exemplifies a movement towards accepting depression and other mental illnesses as serious medical issues that deserve the same level of treatment and coverage.
For years, medical professionals were reluctant to address depression with pregnant and postpartum patients because they worried it opened them up to liability issues and felt ill equipped to treat mental illness. Pregnant women were hesitant to discuss their symptoms and concerns as well.
Hopefully, medical professionals will implement these screenings in a way where they involve the appropriate mental health professionals. This will reduce the worry of liability and feeling of being unable to fully treat patients. If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression after childbirth, take our clinically-backedpostpartum depression quiz, which can help you understand the best type of treatment to seek. This will reduce the worry of liability and feeling of being unable to fully treat patients.
What Do Mental Health Professionals Think?Our therapists at Talkspace weighed in on the story, applauding the effort while expressing some healthy skepticism.Talkspace therapist Gina Abbondante believes more hospitals should implement similar measures such as the Edinburgh depression scale [postpartum depression scale]. It is important to address women’s mental health during pregnancy because it is a time of change and emotional turmoil, Abbondante said.Talkspace therapist Kristine Cueller agreed pregnancy during depression was an important issue to focus on but worried about the approach the medical community might take.Medical professionals might not present treatments in a therapeutic way, Cuellar said, which could exacerbate depressive symptoms and add stress.Hospitals have a responsibility to ensure they provide or refer patients to the proper environment for mental health treatment. Either way, requiring screenings for depression will at least raise awareness and allow pregnant women more opportunities to seek therapy that will increase their quality of life and their child’s.
What Do Mental Health Professionals Think?
Our therapists at Talkspace weighed in on the story, applauding the effort while expressing some healthy skepticism.
Talkspace therapist Gina Abbondante believes more hospitals should implement similar measures such as the Edinburgh depression scale [postpartum depression scale]. It is important to address women’s mental health during pregnancy because it is a time of change and emotional turmoil, Abbondante said.
Talkspace therapist Kristine Cueller agreed pregnancy during depression was an important issue to focus on but worried about the approach the medical community might take.
Medical professionals might not present treatments in a therapeutic way, Cuellar said, which could exacerbate depressive symptoms and add stress.
Hospitals have a responsibility to ensure they provide or refer patients to the proper environment for mental health treatment. Either way, requiring screenings for depression will at least raise awareness and allow pregnant women more opportunities to seek therapy that will increase their quality of life and their child’s.
Joseph RauchStaff Writer at Talkspace
Staff Writer at Talkspace
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