Two years ago, 25-year-old Prajna Hebbar lost her friend, Priya*, to Postpartum Depression (PPD). She is still filled with a lot of guilt and questions and the death haunts her to this day. Dr Gitanjali Natarajan, Clinical Psychology – Director, Niyama Digital Mental Healthcare highlighted that the lack of awareness about Postpartum Depression as a medical condition results in undiagnosed cases and delayed access to mental healthcare.
FE Mental Health Series | ‘I lost my very close friend to Postpartum Depression, her death still haunts me’
The WHO also maintains that suicide is an important cause of death among pregnant and postpartum women. Although psychosis is much less common it may also lead to suicide and in some cases even harming the newborn.
