A recent study reveals that there has been an alarming rise in post-natal depression  during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The study was carried out by the University of Alberta in Canada and reported in a British newspaper. According to the report, there has been a 41 per cent increase—from the earlier 15 per cent pre-pandemic—in women suffering from maternal depression. The number of those experiencing mild to high anxiety symptoms has reportedly increased from 29 per cent to 72 per cent.

Dr Sudeshna Ray, senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Jaslok and HN Reliance Hospital, says that postpartum depression  is an entity in itself. “While postpartum blues is a very mild form of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety is related to constant sadness and general anxiety that interferes with the whole experience of giving birth. Mothers at this stage are already facing a lot of hormonal changes and the pandemic is just an added stressor,” says Dr Ray.