Category: News
Date: 28.11.2005
Printable version
A survey carried out for 大象传媒 ONE's Real Story with Fiona Bruce suggests that 44% of mothers suffering post-natal depression lie to their health visitors because they are afraid of the consequences of revealing their symptoms.
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Post-natal depression (PND) is currently thought to affect around 10% of new mothers but the programme's survey suggests the numbers could be far higher.
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Symptoms of PND can range from depression, harming themselves or others or, in extreme cases, can lead to suicide.
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The survey was designed to find out whether new mothers with PND are telling the truth about how they feel to health visitors.
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Most new mothers are asked by their health visitors to fill in a form called the Edinburgh Scale which is designed to assess them for PND.
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According to the 597 depressed mothers who responded to the Real Story survey - carried out with the online support group Netmums - 236 or 44% of them lied on the form about their feelings.
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One explanation many gave was that they were afraid that health visitors would call in the social services and they would lose their children. Others felt that they would be seen as bad mothers.
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Real Story with Fiona Bruce is broadcast on Monday 28 November 2005 at 7.30pm on 大象传媒 ONE.
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Notes to Editors
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Script and further details available to the media on request.
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NL
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