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Women struggling with perinatal mental illness have higher rates of disability and are less able to care for their own needs or the needs of their children.
This page introduces some of the consequences of maternal mental illness for mothers and their children.
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| Art: Lesley Charnock |
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Mental distress in the mother can increase vulnerability to
- HIV infection
- substance abuse
- the impacts of poverty and other hardships
- violence
- self-harm
- loss of employment
- decline in health due to decreased access to health services
- obstetric complications due to decreased access to antenatal care
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Depression and anxiety in the mother affects the physical, neurological and behavioural development of the infant and child.
Consequences can include
- negative impacts on foetal brain development
- increased crying and irritability in the infant
- disruption of the mother-infant bond
- early cessation of breastfeeding
- non-completion of immunisation regimes
- higher rates of infectious illness and hospital admission
- gastro-intestinal problems or diarrhoeal disease
- poor nutrition
- decreased motor skills
- delayed growth or stunting
- long-term behavioural and emotional problems
- infant mortality
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Psychiatric disorders and suicide are a leading cause of maternal mortality in developed countries.
In developing countries, mental illness decreases access to antenatal care, is consistently associated with infant mortality, and is a significant risk factor for loss of developmental potential in children under 5 years.
Addressing the mental health needs of the mother clearly has positive implications for the wellbeing of women, their children and families, and long term social development.
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