Facebook hosts discussion on pregnancy depression
ALEXANDRA - The South African and Anxiety Group [SADAG] invites the public to a Facebook chat on dealing with depressive symptoms and unhappiness during pregnancy.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) invites the public to a Facebook chat about dealing with symptoms of depression and unhappiness during and after pregnancy.
The chat will be on Friday, 20 March between 1 and 2pm, and again from 7 to 8pm with psychologist Candice Cowen, birthing expert and social worker Sally Baker, and psychiatrist Dr Carina Marsay. They will be providing information on available support and the symptoms, warning signs, and available treatment while pregnant and breastfeeding.
Sadag said 10 percent of pregnant women experience emotional challenges and clinically significant depressive symptoms when they should be experiencing happiness, joy, romance and excitement. The organisation attributed this partly to having to deal with so many changes during pregnancy, as well as during the first year after birth, which can develop into depression, anxiety and other less common mental health problems such as bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis.
Sadag urged women to take care of their emotional health during this period by, together with dads, learning to recognise mental health symptoms so that they can get the help needed. The symptoms include feeling sad, down, worried or anxious.
Sadag said sometimes symptoms result from unwanted pregnancies, poverty, extreme stress, exposure to violence (domestic, sexual and gender-based) and trauma.
If you can’t join the chat but are experiencing difficulties during pregnancy or are suffering from depression, bipolar disorder or are ready to start planning a family and want help or advice, call Sadag on 0800 21 22 23 or visit their website.
Details: To join the chat log on to www.sadag.org; or go to theSouth African Depression and Anxiety Group’s Facebook page; or call 011 234 4870.
