Post Natal depression battlefield

In June this year I lost my sister from post natal depression (PND). Quite literally. She ended up taking her own life.

What does PND look like?. It’s the inability to bond with your baby and the inability to adapt to a “mum” life. Everything is heavy; mentally, physically and spiritually.

The constant cry’s from your bub and the inability to soothe them, the constant strain of severe sleep deprivation (even going as far back as early pregnancy). Your mind cannot cope and your body cannot move.

It’s like being stuck in the dark. You can’t see any light in any direction. How do I know this?. I too have personally been affected by post natal depression. It is such a surreal and dark place that I don’t think anyone can fully comprehend it unless you have been there. I’m a single mum to a full on 3yr old and it is quite literally one of the hardest things I’ve EVER had to do. Yet… I somehow got through PND.

Medication is the best pharmacological approach however; the tablets are a slow release. Taking up to several weeks for the person to even feel any positive change.

What is the quickest intervention?. Recognising the signs of post natal depression and intervening with support and encouragement.

You may notice changes in the mum’s behaviour that are not typical to her normal patterns.

- Withdrawing from social engagement.

- Teariness/sadness and irritability.

- Anxiety and panic attacks.

- Loss of appetite.

- Loss of confidence.

- lol of enjoyment.

- Extreme fatigue.

- Fear.

- Inability to focus or concentrate.

These are warning signs for post natal depression and fluctuate throughout this period. The hardest part is that I; like many others weren’t aware until it was too late. I wasn’t as close to my sister; so by the time she reached out to me the signs and symptoms had become that extreme that it had snowballed.

There is help; however. I personally didn’t even know who could help when it comes to post natal depression. Who do we turn too?. What do we do?. Where do we go?. Aside from trying to support my sister over the phone and checking in daily. My initial thought was hospitalisation for medication review followed by psychologist appointments to overcome this.

This is where we get to L. hospital mental health. The closest mental health facility and - the one accessible to the public in times of desperate need.

However; being a Nurse of 10+ years there is one thing I have learnt from working in the public health system. It is an absolute shit show. The biggest downfall for a public health facility is that anyone can access it. Now; when it comes to health and medical attention everyone deserves this right.

However; when it comes to mental health each individual needs to be treated “individually” and “holistically”. This means that an individual requiring medical attention recieves care that is undertaken encompassing their mental, psychical, psychological and social health. Not just their physical ailment/s. Failure to do so results in the individual not receiving adequate care. Without adequate care the person can deteriorate quickly. In mental health; There is a vast difference between an untreated schizophrenic in an active manic episode as opposed to someone experiencing a deep, dark depression. The two individuals do not have the same state of mind and treating them as such has catastrophic effects. Yet… this is how the public health system operates. In particular; the mental health system.

You have limited privacy. Due to self harm or self harm to others. Limited safety. Especially when it comes to people experiencing severe mental health issues that pose a high risk of harm to others and themselves. and… limited support. Whilst mental health Nurses are trained in mental health. Social workers don’t seem to be the “norm” for this environment and there certainly aren’t “one on one’s” with the clients to assess their needs and wants. Especially in times of crisis like these where psychological interventions are warranted.

From my understanding no social worker had seen my sister and no support was given to help facilitate PND in a home environment where she would have been safe, would have been more comfortable and would have been cared for.

How is it physically possible to put all different classes of mental health in one facility. Especially those with extreme variations and expect people with milder versions of mental health - PND to thrive and overcome. YOU CANT!.

The day of my sisters suicide I went to the L. hospital as soon as I could. I stayed right beside her along side her close family and a friend. We took it in turns to stay there for 2whole days and nights. On the Sunday I ended up having a stress seizure. I didn’t cope and soon after visited a mental health ward for my own review and then admission. I went there for an appointment. I had my appointment at 9am. I waited all day and come 6pm; I was admitted. Coming first hand from someone who was admitted onto a mental health ward I knew instantly it would not be conducive to any sort of recovery. At this point I was not and still have not been suicidal. I was there purely for a medication review and rest. Rest.... whilst waiting in the waiting room for 7+ hours I witnessed an intense outburst from one person, then another. When I actually got onto the ward.... the staff were run off their feet, they had numerous clients hanging right off them. I then witnessed another person verbally assault a Nurse to which she amazingly controlled and de escalated the situation.

This should not be occurring but it does. Why?!. Because there is not enough facilities with appropriate environments, not enough staff and definitely not enough support or even education surrounding proper treatment and early interventions.

I later found out that Belmont private hospital can be accessed by the public without having to take your baby in. Something that my sister was wanting. She didn’t want to be in a situation where it was just bub and her and why would you when you’re not coping?!.

So how did we not know about this?!. Why is the general public not made aware - especially by the first go to point which are your General practitioners!. If we had of known about this we might have been able to save her.

For the ENTIRE state of Queensland there are only 4public beds and 10private beds available. PND affects 1 in 7 women EACH YEAR.

The difficulty is; that whilst people feel like they may be helping this can hinder in so many ways.

“My child did this” “this is what I found worked with....”. These are statements that can weigh heavily on a new or exisiting mum. If we take this on board and it doesn’t help then what?. We come to a crossroad.

Mums experiencing PND need to feel supported and encouraged with positive statements and support that allow them to feel like there is some control even when they feel like they’re loosing their grip by the minute.

Understanding that what may have worked for bub may now not work is completely normal!. Babies are still developing and their self regulation of emotions is one thing that has not developed. Sometimes babies don’t even know why they’re crying. You could have held your bub the exact same way, went through the exact same motions but still there may be no reprieve.

In the end PND can take lives.

Sadly. There is support available. However; due to our governments “allocation” of funds a lot of the resources, education and valuable help doesn’t go to where it is needed the most.

All we can do as individuals is get behind the many unseen faces to change the way the Mental health system operates.