Depression, especially in pregnancy, is a sensitive subject. It impacts the woman, her child and her family and it affects between 14 and 23% women during pregnancy. Because of hormonal changes during pregnancy, a woman may not realize she is suffering from depression. A new, comprehensive guide about this condition that discusses symptoms and treatment to help women and their family members understand and cope with this issue is now available from the a site called PsychGuides. For a helpful resource visit Living with Depression during Pregnancy
Also, if you live in the Chicago area, the Asher Center for the Study and Treatment of Depression and Mood Disorders has just opened at Northwestern Medicine that provides expertise in hormone-related depression.
Mental disorders are the cause of more than 37% of disabilities worldwide, with depression being the leading cause of disability among people aged 15 and older, according to the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Disease and Risk Factors (2006). Compared to men, women have twice the rate of depression, with a specific risk at puberty, premenstrually, postpartum, and in the perimenopause. A striking 21% (1 of 5) women and 12% of men will have at least one episode of major depressive disorder in their lifetimes.