Public Health Nurses – Treating Postpartum Depression

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Guest Article by Erika Krull

Postpartum depression affects hundreds of thousands of women each year, but only a small percentage of them seek treatment. It is a significant health threat, and only the tip of the iceberg is visible to the general society. So who is best able bridge the gap between silent suffering and proper treatment? Public health nurses are trained to see this kind of health threat and to put plans into action.

Public health nurses play a pivotal role in the treatment of postpartum depression because of their unique vision. They view health problems in the context of a whole population. Public health nurses gather data so they can identify the effect postpartum depression has on a population of women. Once they have enough information, they are able to plan effective treatment options for the community.

Fortunately, public health nurses are well equipped to help women with postpartum depression. Carol Isaac is a registered nurse and consultant with the Public Health Association of Nebraska. She states that, “Public health nurses are involved in their communities. People know who they are and can trust them.” Carol says that they are a prime position to deliver important information to postpartum mothers.

Perhaps one of the most important tasks a public health nurse can do is mental health screening. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Screening Tool asks ten questions about how a woman has been functioning in the past week. When a caring nurse gains her trust, a depressed mother can open up and answer these few simple questions. Screening can also help public nurses determine the scope of postpartum depression in their region.

Another task for the public health nurse involves referring depressed mothers to mental health professionals. These nurses are known as a resource for information and networking. They are aware of counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists in the area who are knowledgeable about postpartum depression. For a mother who already feels ashamed and overwhelmed, a well-targeted referral can be very reassuring.

Meeting a postpartum woman in her home helps a nurse see how the mother is functioning on a daily basis. Postpartum moms are typically exhausted and want to limit trips out with their newborn and other young children. This problem can be overcome with regular home visits. A nurse who visits several times after delivery will be more likely to see red flags of depression.

Mother-to-mother support is a significant part of recovery for a mother with postpartum depression. Some regions of the country have many established groups, while other regions are still greatly lacking. Public health nurses are well suited to organize and even lead such groups. They can use their networking skills for publicity, their medical knowledge to educate, and their caring disposition to support and listen.

Public health nurses have a distinct ability to see postpartum depression differently than most health professionals, always looking at the “big picture.” With their help, each community has a real hope of bringing postpartum depression out of the dark.