Support for Mentally Ill Mothers

A mental health charity in Australia has claimed in a new research study that mentally ill mothers are not getting the support and assistance they need during pregnancy and after.

SANE Australia, the charity organization, stated that most of the subjects involved in the study had depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. 75 per cent of the women reported that they did not get any information on how to deal with pregnancy or parenthood in their mental state. In fact, they had been given contradictory information on medication and breastfeeding. No practical help such as home visits or child care by health professionals was offered to them.

The Executive Director of SANE, Barbara Hocking, declared that there is a need for health professionals to be better coordinated and better informed in their support to mentally ill mothers. Managing a mental illness with added responsibilities as new mothers required support and assistance.

SANE has recommended that the government look into this urgent need and improve healthcare services for these disadvantaged mothers.



Source: Medindia