Increased Suicide Risk for Women with Depression During or After Pregnancy, Even Years Later
2 min read
Perinatal Depression Increases Risk of Suicidal Behavior and Death, new Swedish study finds
A research team in Sweden has recently conducted a groundbreaking study, analyzing records of nearly a million women from 2001 to 2017, to shed light on the alarming impact of perinatal depression. The study compared 86,551 women diagnosed with perinatal depression to 865,510 women without the disorder, and the results are undeniably concerning.
One of the major findings of the study revealed that women struggling with perinatal depression faced a three times higher risk of engaging in suicidal behavior compared to those without the disorder. Furthermore, this heightened risk was shown to persist over time, as even years later, women with perinatal depression were found to have twice as high a risk of suicidal behavior compared to their counterparts.
Even more alarming is the second study conducted by the same research team, which revealed that women with perinatal depression were more than six times at risk of dying by suicide. Shockingly, suicide accounted for a large share of the deaths of women diagnosed with perinatal depression.
Moreover, the study found that women with perinatal depression were twice as likely to die from any cause over the 18-year study period compared to women without the disorder. These findings highlight the urgent need for effective interventions and support for women experiencing perinatal depression.
To further understand the impact of the disorder, the researchers went a step further and compared women with perinatal depression to their biological sisters who did not have the disorder. Surprisingly, sisters with perinatal depression had nearly three times the risk of engaging in suicidal behavior compared to their sisters without the disorder. This underlines the fact that depression holds a more significant role in these outcomes than genetics or childhood environment, according to the researchers.
Apart from depression, the study also shed light on various risk factors associated with perinatal depression. Women with the disorder were found to be more likely to live alone, have lower income, possess less formal education, have recently smoked, and have not given birth before. Identifying these risk factors could aid in early detection and targeted support for women who may be at a higher risk of perinatal depression.
These findings provide a stark reminder of the urgent need for better mental health support and interventions for women experiencing perinatal depression. The research team hopes that their findings will prompt governments and healthcare providers to prioritize mental health programs and policies specifically tailored to support women during this vulnerable period.
As public awareness grows, it is crucial for society as a whole to rally and provide the necessary resources and support to help women overcome perinatal depression and prevent the tragic consequences associated with the disorder.
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