Reading Comp 5

Overcoming social stigma of postpartum depression

Postpartum depression can happen to anyone and its prevalence is about 10% of new mothers,
said Penang Adventist Hospital consultant clinical psychologist Dr Lynne Yong. Women who
miscarry or whose babies are stillborn are also susceptible to postpartum depression.

The exact cause of postpartum depression is not clear, but some of the risk factors include
hormonal changes, history of mental illness, marital or financial stresses, birth complications,
lack of self-confidence as a parent, problems with the baby’s health, major life changes around
the time of delivery, lack of support or help with the baby or severe premenstrual syndrome.

Ignorance about postpartum depression also means many new mothers are caught unaware.
Many people assume giving birth is just a normal bodily process. Some husbands refuse to
participate actively in child-rearing and managing a household, leaving wives to balance their
new role as a mother. There is suddenly a new routine of breastfeeding, staying up all night
because of a colicky baby, child-rearing and suffering body-aches and tiredness, on top of
managing work and the household.

Women are expected to transition into motherhood seamlessly, and the inability to cope is often
perceived as a character flaw, a sign of weakness and incompetence. We are still a long way
from recognising postpartum depression, what more seeking treatment for it.

People delay or refuse to seek treatment for mental issues in general, not just for postpartum
depression. The stigma is so damaging. Society and policy also play a role in deterring early
treatment. For example, the general perception that seeking mental health treatment meant one is
‘crazy’ or ‘weak’ also scares people away. Public perception of mental illness needs to change.
Also, insurance companies are biased against people suffering from mental illness. They can
deny coverage if someone declared that they had a history of mental illness even when they have
been well for ages. So, the fear of future discrimination deters people from seeking treatment.

There is a need to fight the stigma. There is no difference between someone suffering from a
physical illness versus a mental illness. Everyone can all play a role in helping new mothers. For
a start, when a friend becomes a new mother, ask them questions such as ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Are you getting enough help at home?’

“It is vital to get women to open up about their struggles, and asking questions could facilitate
the process. Most importantly, you must get enough sleep, so get someone else to care for the
baby while you sleep. Make sure you have your own time for yourself. Leave the baby with the
father or relative and go out with your friends once in a while. Talk and share about the
difficulties you face. Just remember that whatever you are feeling, chances are other new
mothers have felt it too. You are not alone,” Dr Yong also said.
Fathers also need to be supported to enable them to play a more active role. Following the
postpartum psychosis case in Kelantan, the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) had
suggested that government and private companies give new fathers a month of paternity leave so
they could be of help to their spouses.

According to MTUC’s secretary general J. Solomon, longer paternity leave is a solution to

postpartum depression as it enables fathers to take better care of their family. The existing
paternity leave allowance in the government sector is seven days, while some private companies
offer two days.
(Adapted from Star2.com, May 2017)

1. It is possible for women who miscarry to have postpartum depression.

A. True
B. False
C. Not stated

2. Replace the word severe (line 7) with another suitable word

________________

3. transition into motherhood seamlessly (line 14) means

A. be a mother who is constantly learning
B. understanding the inability to cope as a mother
C. undergo the process of change without problems

4. Paragraph 5 is mainly about

A. People with mental illness are denied insurance coverage
B. The stigma that comes with mental illness delays early treatment
C. People who seek mental health treatment are seen as weak

5. Which of the following is true?

A. Women are encouraged to share their problems
B. Giving birth is a normal process women have to undergo
C. Identifying postpartum depressions is easy while treating it is difficult

6. facilitate the process (line 28) means asking questions could help
A. determine the reason why women suffer from postpartum depression
B. monitor the progress of a women after giving birth
C. encourage women to be more vocal about the challenges they face

7. Overall the passage is mainly about

A. the stigma of postpartum depression and its effects
B. understanding the severity of postpartum depression and encouraging women to seek
treatment if necessary
C. urging the government and the society to give fathers more days of paternity leave