Maternal Suicide….A Rare Discussion (Copy)
September is suicide awareness month and 2020 mom has designated the week of September 7th-11th as maternal suicide awareness week. We don’t hear a lot about maternal suicide. We hear quite a bit about the high maternal mortality rate especially among African-American women, however, maternal suicide is usually not discussed. Interestingly enough, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) does not include suicide and overdose in its definition of maternal mortality. Suicide and overdose are treated as incidental. Maternal mortality is associated with complications of childbirth such as preeclampsia and hemorrhage.
As a maternal mental health therapist, I know that moms are most vulnerable during the postpartum period. Research defines the postpartum period as up to a year but I believe it extends to two years. During that time, up to 10 to 20% of mothers will experience postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a form of depression and carries some of the same severe risks such as suicide. It’s not discussed as often because becoming a mother is “supposed” to be one of the happiest times of a woman’s life. When it’s not, many women feel isolated and alone as if something is wrong with them. Couple this with the lack of information on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and stigma surrounding mental health, we have a real crisis on our hands. If you know a postpartum mom that is struggling (i.e., does not have support, is not eating or sleeping, appears withdrawn or sad, irritable or angry, overwhelmed, and just not like themselves), provide assistance by
1. Offering to watch the baby while mom sleeps a minimum of four hours.
2. Creating social distancing events such as walks in the park.
3. Finding a therapist that specializes in PMADs at postpartum.net.
4. Contacting the National Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741)
5. Contact National Suicide Prevention hotline and website
(1-800-273-82550 or www.suicidepreventionlife.org)