Postnatal mums suffer in silence with depression

THOUSANDS of new mums are suffering in silence because their postnatal depression goes untreated, according to a report.

The study, for the charity 4Children, says 35,000 mothers every year in Britain struggle with symptoms and do not get professional help. Irish support group, Postnatal Depression (PND) Ireland, estimates as many as one in five women here suffer from the illness.

Thousands more fail to receive treatment due to “serious shortcomings” in the system for referral, together with an “over-reliance” on antidepressants and the stigma attached to the condition.