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Postnatal depression and perinatal mental health

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

What is perinatal depression? 

If you experience depression while you are pregnant or after giving birth, this may be known as: 

  • antenatal depression – while you are pregnant 
  • postnatal depression (PND) – during roughly the first year after giving birth 
  • perinatal depression – any time from becoming pregnant to around one year after giving birth. 

Lots of people are aware of postnatal depression. But it is less known that many people experience antenatal depression, and some people may experience both. 

The information on this page is about perinatal depression, so it is relevant if you are experiencing either antenatal or postnatal depression. It covers: 

  • Signs and symptoms of perinatal depression 
  • Treatments for perinatal depression 
  • Self-care for perinatal depression 

What’s the difference between the ‘baby blues’ and postnatal depression? 

The ‘baby blues’ is a brief period of low mood, feeling emotional and tearful around three to 10 days after you give birth. You are likely to be coping with lots of new demands and getting little sleep, so it is natural to feel emotional and overwhelmed. This feeling usually only lasts for a few days and is generally quite manageable. 

Postnatal depression is a much deeper and longer-term depression. This usually develops within six weeks of giving birth and it can be gradual or sudden. It can range from being mild to very severe. 

Signs and symptoms of perinatal depression 

These are some of the common signs and symptoms of perinatal depression: 

How you might feel 

If you have perinatal depression, you might feel: 

  • down, upset or tearful 
  • restless, agitated or irritable 
  • guilty, worthless and down on yourself 
  • empty and numb 
  • isolated and unable to relate to other people 
  • finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy 
  • a sense of unreality 
  • no self-confidence or self-esteem 
  • hopeless and despairing 
  • hostile or indifferent to your partner 
  • hostile or indifferent to your baby 
  • suicidal feelings. 

“I found it hard because whilst people talk about postnatal depression there is very little discussion of mental ill health in pregnancy and it’s supposed to be such a joyful time.” 

How you might behave 

If you have perinatal depression, you might find that you: 

  • lose concentration 
  • find it hard to sleep, even when you have the chance 
  • have a reduced appetite 
  • lack interest in sex. 

Some of these experiences are common during pregnancy and after becoming a parent. But it’s still important to mention them to your doctor if you’re concerned you might be experiencing perinatal depression. 

“I felt selfish and guilty for feeling negative and low. This made me isolate myself further and compounded the problem.” 

Treatments for perinatal depression 

There are various treatments that you may be offered for perinatal depression. Your doctor should discuss these options with you, so you can make a decision together about the best treatment for you: 

Talking therapy 

The talking therapies you may be offered include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT). These are short-term therapies recommended to treat depression. 

Medication 

This is most likely to be an antidepressant. If you have any concerns about taking medication, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist. We also have information about taking antidepressants while pregnant or breastfeeding. 

A combination of talking therapy and medication 

Some people find that taking medication helps them feel stable enough to get the most out of a talking therapy. But other people find medication or talking therapies are more helpful on their own. 

Sometimes there may also be long waiting lists for talking therapies in your area. Your doctor may offer you an antidepressant to help you while you wait for therapy. 

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) 

If you have very severe depression which doesn’t respond to other treatments, your doctor may suggest electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT can work very quickly, so doctors may suggest that you have it shortly after giving birth. This is to help you care for and bond with your baby as soon as possible. 

ECT can be used during pregnancy, but there may be concerns about giving you anaesthetic while pregnant. You can speak to your doctor about this. 

See our page on treatments for depression for more information. 

“Whilst I was worried about getting PND, I wasn’t expecting to become so unwell in pregnancy. It was a mixture of hormones, lack of medication, worries about giving birth and sickness in the first trimester that contributed to my illness.” 

Self-care for perinatal depression 

Experiencing perinatal depression can be very difficult, but these are some steps you can take that might help: 

Be kind to yourself 

You might have many expectations for yourself as a parent, but none of us can meet all our expectations all the time. 

Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do something you planned to, or if you find yourself feeling worse again. Try to treat yourself as you would treat a friend, and be kind to yourself. 

Keep a mood diary 

This can help you keep track of any changes in your mood, and you might find that you have more good days than you think. This can also help you notice if any activities, places or people make you feel better or worse. 

Monitor your mood. It can be helpful to keep track of your moods over a period of time. You could try using a mood diary (there are many freely available, such as MoodPanda)

Look after your hygiene 

When you’re experiencing depression, it’s easy for hygiene to not feel like a priority. But small things can make a big difference to how you feel. For example, you could take a shower and get dressed, even if you’re not going out of the house. 

Speak to people with similar experiences 

Often we can feel that we are the only ones feeling how we do. There are peer support and advice groups available to share thoughts, feelings and experiences. 

Contact specialist organisations 

PANDA (Australia) offers information and support for people experiencing antenatal and postnatal depression for dads. Dad’s Matter UK provides information for dads’ mental health. See our useful contacts page for other organisations that can help. 

Ask for help 

Where possible, ask for and accept help from those around you. Practical and emotional support from family, friends and community can be vital in helping you to cope. 

For more ideas, see our page on ways to look after your mental health when becoming a parent.

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

What is perinatal depression?

What is perinatal depression? 

If you experience depression while you are pregnant or after giving birth, this may be known as: 

  • antenatal depression – while you are pregnant 
  • postnatal depression (PND) – during roughly the first year after giving birth 
  • perinatal depression – any time from becoming pregnant to around one year after giving birth. 

Lots of people are aware of postnatal depression. But it is less known that many people experience antenatal depression, and some people may experience both. 

The information on this page is about perinatal depression, so it is relevant if you are experiencing either antenatal or postnatal depression. It covers: 

  • Signs and symptoms of perinatal depression 
  • Treatments for perinatal depression 
  • Self-care for perinatal depression 

What's the difference between the 'baby blues' and postnatal depression? 

The 'baby blues' is a brief period of low mood, feeling emotional and tearful around three to 10 days after you give birth. You are likely to be coping with lots of new demands and getting little sleep, so it is natural to feel emotional and overwhelmed. This feeling usually only lasts for a few days and is generally quite manageable. 

Postnatal depression is a much deeper and longer-term depression. This usually develops within six weeks of giving birth and it can be gradual or sudden. It can range from being mild to very severe. 

Signs and symptoms of perinatal depression 

These are some of the common signs and symptoms of perinatal depression: 

How you might feel 

If you have perinatal depression, you might feel: 

  • down, upset or tearful 
  • restless, agitated or irritable 
  • guilty, worthless and down on yourself 
  • empty and numb 
  • isolated and unable to relate to other people 
  • finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy 
  • a sense of unreality 
  • no self-confidence or self-esteem 
  • hopeless and despairing 
  • hostile or indifferent to your partner 
  • hostile or indifferent to your baby 
  • suicidal feelings. 

"I found it hard because whilst people talk about postnatal depression there is very little discussion of mental ill health in pregnancy and it's supposed to be such a joyful time." 

How you might behave 

If you have perinatal depression, you might find that you: 

  • lose concentration 
  • find it hard to sleep, even when you have the chance 
  • have a reduced appetite 
  • lack interest in sex. 

Some of these experiences are common during pregnancy and after becoming a parent. But it's still important to mention them to your doctor if you're concerned you might be experiencing perinatal depression. 

"I felt selfish and guilty for feeling negative and low. This made me isolate myself further and compounded the problem." 

Treatments for perinatal depression 

There are various treatments that you may be offered for perinatal depression. Your doctor should discuss these options with you, so you can make a decision together about the best treatment for you: 

Talking therapy 

The talking therapies you may be offered include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT). These are short-term therapies recommended to treat depression. 

Medication 

This is most likely to be an antidepressant. If you have any concerns about taking medication, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist. We also have information about taking antidepressants while pregnant or breastfeeding. 

A combination of talking therapy and medication 

Some people find that taking medication helps them feel stable enough to get the most out of a talking therapy. But other people find medication or talking therapies are more helpful on their own. 

Sometimes there may also be long waiting lists for talking therapies in your area. Your doctor may offer you an antidepressant to help you while you wait for therapy. 

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) 

If you have very severe depression which doesn't respond to other treatments, your doctor may suggest electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT can work very quickly, so doctors may suggest that you have it shortly after giving birth. This is to help you care for and bond with your baby as soon as possible. 

ECT can be used during pregnancy, but there may be concerns about giving you anaesthetic while pregnant. You can speak to your doctor about this. 

See our page on treatments for depression for more information. 

"Whilst I was worried about getting PND, I wasn't expecting to become so unwell in pregnancy. It was a mixture of hormones, lack of medication, worries about giving birth and sickness in the first trimester that contributed to my illness." 

Self-care for perinatal depression 

Experiencing perinatal depression can be very difficult, but these are some steps you can take that might help: 

Be kind to yourself 

You might have many expectations for yourself as a parent, but none of us can meet all our expectations all the time. 

Don't beat yourself up if you don't do something you planned to, or if you find yourself feeling worse again. Try to treat yourself as you would treat a friend, and be kind to yourself. 

Keep a mood diary 

This can help you keep track of any changes in your mood, and you might find that you have more good days than you think. This can also help you notice if any activities, places or people make you feel better or worse. 

Monitor your mood. It can be helpful to keep track of your moods over a period of time. You could try using a mood diary (there are many freely available, such as MoodPanda)

Look after your hygiene 

When you're experiencing depression, it's easy for hygiene to not feel like a priority. But small things can make a big difference to how you feel. For example, you could take a shower and get dressed, even if you're not going out of the house. 

Speak to people with similar experiences 

Often we can feel that we are the only ones feeling how we do. There are peer support and advice groups available to share thoughts, feelings and experiences. 

Contact specialist organisations 

PANDA (Australia) offers information and support for people experiencing antenatal and postnatal depression for dads. Dad’s Matter UK provides information for dads’ mental health. See our useful contacts page for other organisations that can help. 

Ask for help 

Where possible, ask for and accept help from those around you. Practical and emotional support from family, friends and community can be vital in helping you to cope. 

For more ideas, see our page on ways to look after your mental health when becoming a parent.