Post-natal depression drives mother to suicide
- added July 19, 2008
- 4 responses
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- JanaPokana
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Kate Chetwynd seemed to have everything to live for, with a newborn child and a loving family around her. But last week she took her own life, after suffering from post-natal depression. She had been receiving help from family, friends and professionals, yet this was not enough to save her.
As with up to 15 per cent of new mothers, the joy of having a child was mixed with depression – but instead of being temporary "baby blues", the feeling became overwhelming, as it does for a small number of sufferers – and led her to take her own life.
Mrs Chetwynd, 41, lived with her husband, Tom, a chartered surveyor, near Forres. She had been suffering from depression following the birth of her second son, Alexander, four months ago. She had not suffered from the illness after her first child, William, now two, but began feeling unwell after Alexander was born.
She went missing a week ago after leaving a friend's home in Skye to go for a walk. Her hosts, knowing she suffered from post-natal depression, raised the alarm when she did not return. A search involving coastguards, lifeboat, Skye mountain rescue team, police and search dogs, ended when her body was discovered by Norwegian holidaymakers near Portree Bay.
"We had no concept that the disease could be so vicious," said her brother-in-law, Peter Hingston. "This is a ghastly thing and we aim to do what we can to bring it to people's attention. She was getting treatment; she had spoken to a GP and to doctors on Skye. She was getting the best help available. The problem is that not much is known about post-natal depression."
According to Depression Alliance Scotland, between 10 per cent and 15 per cent of new or recent mothers have post-natal depression. Last year, a British Psychological Society conference heard how the loss of individual identity a woman experiences after having a baby is similar to suffering a bereavement.
Losing their financial independence, work status and other freedoms has such a profound effect they can find themselves grieving for their former self. The pressures of modern life had also led to rising rates of post-natal depression, the conference heard, as women felt under pressure to "have it all". The scale of the problem is hard to estimate as many suffer in silence.
(Excerpts / John Ross, Scotsman)
As with up to 15 per cent of new mothers, the joy of having a child was mixed with depression – but instead of being temporary "baby blues", the feeling became overwhelming, as it does for a small number of sufferers – and led her to take her own life.
Mrs Chetwynd, 41, lived with her husband, Tom, a chartered surveyor, near Forres. She had been suffering from depression following the birth of her second son, Alexander, four months ago. She had not suffered from the illness after her first child, William, now two, but began feeling unwell after Alexander was born.
She went missing a week ago after leaving a friend's home in Skye to go for a walk. Her hosts, knowing she suffered from post-natal depression, raised the alarm when she did not return. A search involving coastguards, lifeboat, Skye mountain rescue team, police and search dogs, ended when her body was discovered by Norwegian holidaymakers near Portree Bay.
"We had no concept that the disease could be so vicious," said her brother-in-law, Peter Hingston. "This is a ghastly thing and we aim to do what we can to bring it to people's attention. She was getting treatment; she had spoken to a GP and to doctors on Skye. She was getting the best help available. The problem is that not much is known about post-natal depression."
According to Depression Alliance Scotland, between 10 per cent and 15 per cent of new or recent mothers have post-natal depression. Last year, a British Psychological Society conference heard how the loss of individual identity a woman experiences after having a baby is similar to suffering a bereavement.
Losing their financial independence, work status and other freedoms has such a profound effect they can find themselves grieving for their former self. The pressures of modern life had also led to rising rates of post-natal depression, the conference heard, as women felt under pressure to "have it all". The scale of the problem is hard to estimate as many suffer in silence.
(Excerpts / John Ross, Scotsman)
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- JanaPokana
- 1 month ago
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I don't know much about about depression but I know a lot about children and being pregnant because I have 2 siblings and 6 younger cousins. I think maybe the reason she suffered depression, along with other women, is because they're waiting so long to have children. It used to be that you got married, left the house and had kids at, like, 16. But now women are waiting later and later. 41, to me at least, seems awful old to have children, even if it's not your first. The horomones and such probably aren't in as much balance as a younger woman's would have been.
But that's just my theory. I'm probably missing several things but I also didn't know the woman so I can't say too much -
I had pretty severe post-partum depression. The hormones, not knowing what I was in for, the life shock, loss of my former self, my body changed, I was "stuck" and didn't have any sleep or free time. All of this contributed to it. It's an awful dark place and thought about suicide. I couldn't be alone for fear of killing myself. I remember trying to get through each minute at a time. Everything was a struggle. I cried so much. I felt as if i was losing my mind. It took me almost one year to recover. I was lucky enough to have an enormous support system. Was this lady on meds? I never thought my mind would go where it did. I pray for her famiy and children. I can understand what her pain felt like.
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Also i wanted to add that society and the media don't help. It looks all pink and rosey on tv. Something else I noticed is that people don't talk about the negatives about children. It's like they are afraid to let people know or express bad feelings about their own children. I personally love my daughter and would die without her...but I didn't feel that way at first. To all you women out there struggling...you are not alone, there is help, it's okay to not like your baby at first, you can get through this, take care of yourself, it's okay to have time away. All of these feelings are normal and okay. Having my daughter made me understand what self love was. I loved myself before as i was, but when i had my daughter, who I was changed. You have to love your soul, b/c your mental and physical self changes throughout your life.
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