Abstract
Objectives: Postpartum mental health challenges frequently involve co-occurring symptoms of depression and anxiety, yet nearly half of affected women do not seek psychological support, leaving these conditions untreated.
This study examined women with clinically diagnosed postpartum depression (PPD) or anxiety (PPA), exploring perceived barriers and potential facilitators to help-seeking behaviour and ways to improve access to psychological support.
Method: To address the research questions (What factors hinder women with PPD and PPA from seeking psychological support? What factors could encourage women with PPD and PPA to seek psychological support?)
a case study design within a qualitative research framework was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight postpartum women diagnosed with PPD or PPA and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results: The barrier most frequently mentioned was the belief of women that childcare and health-related responsibilities should take priority over their own mental health needs. Women either had no one to leave their children with or distrusted others to care for their babies. Another common obstacle was ignorance of the severity of their condition, coupled with insufficient encouragement or empathy from healthcare professionals and women’s
families. The women recommended starting psychiatric evaluations in the maternity hospital and including mental health screenings in the state-funded six-week postpartum check-up. They also suggested offering alternative
options for psychological support, such as remote consultations or home visits by a psychiatrist if necessary. The study is limited by its small sample size, comprising only women with a clinical diagnosis of PPD or PPA, potentially
excluding the perspectives of undiagnosed women. Conclusion: The findings highlight the complex interplay of psychosocial and systemic factors affecting help-seeking behaviour in postpartum women with depression or anxiety. Addressing these barriers through proactive mental health interventions could significantly improve care delivery and outcomes for this vulnerable population.
This study examined women with clinically diagnosed postpartum depression (PPD) or anxiety (PPA), exploring perceived barriers and potential facilitators to help-seeking behaviour and ways to improve access to psychological support.
Method: To address the research questions (What factors hinder women with PPD and PPA from seeking psychological support? What factors could encourage women with PPD and PPA to seek psychological support?)
a case study design within a qualitative research framework was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight postpartum women diagnosed with PPD or PPA and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results: The barrier most frequently mentioned was the belief of women that childcare and health-related responsibilities should take priority over their own mental health needs. Women either had no one to leave their children with or distrusted others to care for their babies. Another common obstacle was ignorance of the severity of their condition, coupled with insufficient encouragement or empathy from healthcare professionals and women’s
families. The women recommended starting psychiatric evaluations in the maternity hospital and including mental health screenings in the state-funded six-week postpartum check-up. They also suggested offering alternative
options for psychological support, such as remote consultations or home visits by a psychiatrist if necessary. The study is limited by its small sample size, comprising only women with a clinical diagnosis of PPD or PPA, potentially
excluding the perspectives of undiagnosed women. Conclusion: The findings highlight the complex interplay of psychosocial and systemic factors affecting help-seeking behaviour in postpartum women with depression or anxiety. Addressing these barriers through proactive mental health interventions could significantly improve care delivery and outcomes for this vulnerable population.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 450 |
| Pages (from-to) | 675-676 |
| Journal | European Journal of Psychology Open |
| Volume | 84 |
| Issue number | Suppl.1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2025 |
| Event | 19th European Congress of Psychology - Paphos, Cyprus Duration: 1 Jul 2025 → 4 Jul 2025 Conference number: 19 https://ecp2025.eu/ |
Field of Science*
- 5.1 Psychology
- 3.3 Health sciences
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
Publication Type*
- 3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)
