http://www.diamondbackonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/04/18/444460a395265 Opinion Postpartum depression stigma fading

Diamondback (University of Maryland) 18.4.2006

By Nikkee Porcaro

Since most of the college-age set has not yet experienced parenthood, words such as "postpartum depression" may mean very little to you. Though brought to the attention of the nation by a crazy man who jumps on couches, postpartum depression is a very real problem, yet has been kept somewhat hush-hush. Mothers have said they’ve felt embarrassed or unqualified, or that they were overreacting when they experienced symptoms of the disorder. Some experts estimate 80 percent of women experience symptoms of postpartum depression after they give birth.

Of course, if you ask Tom Cruise, postpartum depression is cured by vitamins or the methods of his controversial religion, Scientology. He publicly criticized actress Brooke Shields for using antidepressants in conjunction with therapy to treat her postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine made history Thursday, signing a bill requiring health care professionals providing postnatal care to screen new mothers for postpartum depression, the bill also requires them to educate women and their families about the disorder. Former New Jersey governor and current Sen. Richard J. Codey drafted the bill because he experienced the disease first-hand while his wife dealt with postpartum depression, saying, "I know, first-hand, the grief caused by postpartum depression and it is not something that any woman should have to suffer alone in silence."

This bill is a strong piece of legislation in many ways. It acknowledges a real problem affecting a large amount of women and families, and aims to correct it through screening. A video on Comcast.net showed the screening process as a series of phone calls at certain times before and after the birth, asking if the mother had experienced particular symptoms. It is non-invasive, convenient and may identify women who don’t even know they had a problem. It also provides a qualified professional for women to turn to if they know something is wrong.

One of the women interviewed, "Beth," said she would lock herself in the bathroom and think of ways to kill herself, because she thought the world and her child would be better off without her. She described feelings of worthlessness and self-hatred, but also expressed feelings of embarrassment and confusion about who to turn to.

If 70- to 80 percent of mothers are experiencing some form of this depression, and 10 percent of these fall prey to the most serious kind, shouldn’t everyone be happy about this bill?

One woman in the Comcast.net story opposed the bill, citing concerns over too much screening. "Where does it end?" she asked. "What makes screening for postpartum depression more important then, say, a thyroid condition? If you start mandating what to screen for, where does it stop?"

I can see this to a point, but postpartum depression has key factors other diseases don’t: There is a large number of women and families affected, it is not always easily identified by the women themselves; and it is treatable once identified. It is also easier to screen for a condition like this than something like a thyroid condition. When you have women from all walks of life describing suicidal and homicidal feelings toward themselves and their babies, something must be done.

This bill does more than mandate screening. It is a sign of success for women that lawmakers are finally taking notice they may have problems respective to only them and special laws may need to be drafted. In a twisted world where Viagra is often covered by insurance and birth control isn’t, this is a victory for women’s health care.

Now that the stigma surrounding this condition is disappearing due to awareness and legislation, families as a whole can look to leading better lives. Mothers can treat their issues, babies are not in danger of neglect and fathers and other children can function with the mother and child to form a more functional unit. I commend New Jersey’s lawmakers for putting this legislation into effect, and urge Maryland to follow suit. In 2004, House bill 844 was introduced by Maryland Del. Brian Feldman, which required hospitals to distribute information about postpartum depression to all new moms. The bill did not pass, but the Senate passed a mandate requiring the Maryland Hospital Association to meet with stakeholders to create a comprehensive patient education package for new mothers upon discharge from the hospital. While it does not mandate screening, distributing information is a start. Perhaps other states, including Maryland, will follow New Jersey’s lead and see that they can do more than simply educate — they can serve as beacons of hope and treatment for all women suffering from postpartum depression.

Nikkee Porcaro is a junior journalism major. She can be reached at cole120@umd.edu.

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