The Mississippi Department of Mental Health partnered with other state health entities to present "Beyond the Baby Blues," a collection of seminar-style presentations on postpartum depression. According to MDMH, suicide is the second leading cause of death in postpartum women.
Dr. Mallory Malkin is a Chief Clinical Officer for the Bureau of Behavioral Health Services at MDMH. She says she wants the doctors in the audience to know that conversations about postpartum mental health need to be made easier.
"A lot of new moms do not feel that it is ok to talk about the part of recently giving birth that's not rainbows and butterflies," she said. "We really have to break down that stigma not only nationally but within Mississippi, so women feel comfortable expressing the not so rosy side of childbirth and being a new mom."
Mental health professionals presented information about misconceptions around postpartum depression and knowing when to refer a patient to another practice for mental health needs. Dr. Sampat Shivangi is the Chair of the Board of Mental Health at MDMH. He says the stigma Dr. Malkin discussed earlier applies to all types of mental health illnesses.
"For example: I can say I have heart disease, I have lung disease, I have muscular disease, but I will never mention if I mental health disease." he said. "I think we have to bring priority to mental health because it is a slow killer."
Up to 20% of new mothers develop postpartum depression.
