Maternal Depression: A Needed Shift in Public Policy
February 21, 2008 by ellen
Filed under Childhood Issues, Womens' Issues
The National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University Mailman School of Public has issued a new report that urges policy makers to include maternal depression prevention and intervention when creating child-focused policy. The report offers many recommendations and strategies at the local, state and national level. The director of NCCP, Dr. Jane Knitzer, states “that policies promoting treatment and support for one generation will promote healthy development and school readiness in the next generation.”
Hi,
I only becoming aware of maternal depression only after studying about it in my school (luckily I am a medical student, if not, I might do not know about it). Just to share that in some rural area in Malaysia, maternal depression is link to an evil spirit that comes and disturb the mother. This kind of believe make it hard for us as health professionals to prevent this condition to continue to happen.
Just to share. Cheers!
I agreed with Mahfot. For my opinion, this is our job as medical personnel to fire up the awareness of this illness to prevent further complication for the mother as well as the child. It is a great move The National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University Mailman School of Public to suggest the implementation of the policy. May this will be followed by other country who still do not practice this policy in order to increase the quality of health for the people.
Malaysia is currently stepping one step ahead by the set up of Women’s Mental Health Chapter, under Malaysian Psychiatric Association, MPA, started on 25 June 2008. The mission of the Chapter is:
* To improve the mental health of women in Malaysia.
* To expand the fund of knowledge about Women’s Mental Health.
* To promote gender-sensitive and autonomy-enhancing mental health services for women.
Maternal depression is one of the aspect that we want to look at include the signs of depression. Hope we can share the information.
Thank you.