Help is just a call away for mothers with postpartum depression

A new study, published today in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, reveals that telephone-based peer support may help reduce postpartum depression in new mothers. Findings also indicate that social support from peers may be effective for maternal depression up to two years after delivery and may help overcome the stigma associated with the condition.

“Postpartum depression is a major health concern not only for the mother, but for the child as well,” says author Nicole Letourneau, professor and Norlien/ACHF Chair in Parent-Infant Mental Health in the Faculty of Nursing, who led a team from Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. “Treatments for postpartum depression are particularly important to prevent adverse effects on the mother-child relationship and limit the potential impact on child development.”

See the full story in the February 23, 2015 edition of UToday