Maternal mental health: Making a difference
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol23iss3id158Keywords:
postpartum distress, mental health, feminist research, maternal mental health,Abstract
This research project explores what makes a difference in women’s recovery from postpartum distress. As postpartum distress can interfere in the establishment of secure attachment the need for early intervention is vital. This project, based on principles of feminist research, used questionnaires and interviews to canvas women who had accessed the mainstream maternal mental health service of Taranaki District Health Board. The women in this study felt they had benefited from individual and group work alongside medication, but crucial to their recovery was also informal support from family and friends and self care. While evidence-based practice is a dominant discourse in health at present, what these women told us was that kind, non judgemental support helped them recover. When women didn’t have this kind of support from their families, friends or professionals the recovery process was impeded.
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