ABSTRACT

Postpartum depression is diagnosed in approximately 10% of mothers after they give birth. Hormonal changes, psychological adjustment, and fatigue are the primary symptoms of postpartum depression. This area of study is important because of the long-term influence it has on the family. Developmental effects on the children of mothers with postpartum depression have been recorded as late as three and four years of age. While there is a significant amount of research around measuring postpartum depression and how it can affect infants, there is less data regarding how the stigma around postpartum depression and seeking treatment deters affected mothers from seeking and accepting treatment. This study investigates how people perceive postpartum depression, the percentage of people experiencing depression, and personal stigma toward seeking therapy. Findings suggest an overwhelming belief that there is a stigma around postpartum depression. Additionally, a large percentage of participants reported moderate to significant levels of depression according to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, while also reporting that they were not diagnosed with postpartum depression. This suggests that there is a significant number of individuals living with undiagnosed depression.

Keywords: Postpartum depression, therapy, mothers, stigma