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Mental health

Suspect post natal group friend may be suffering with depression-how to broach the subject?

6 replies

scootermum · 07/09/2006 15:43

Hi,
Anyone got any advice?I suspect one of my antenatal class friends is suffering with depression-babys now 8 mnths old.Not sure how to broach subject with her or how to help...Know her well, but not that well...

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SufferingInSilence · 07/09/2006 16:17

Firt your friend is very lucky to have a friend like you!
It is a dfficult subject but perhaps you could start the conversation on a more casual term. Something like :
'I was on MN yesterday and read thats ome mums suffering from PND are feeling very tires/overwhelmed/angry ... -whatever your firend seem to be struggling with- 'and see if she is looking ready to talk about the subject and then herself.

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anniediv · 07/09/2006 16:20

Scootermum, be prepared for her to deny there's anything wrong and to reject advances. A big part of pnd is trying to keep up appearances to the outside world, but be patient and she may open up in time. Respect to you for having a go at speaking to her, though. Hope it goes well.

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bakedpotato · 07/09/2006 16:22

I would just ask her if she's OK. Mabye say you've noticed she seems a bit low, and ask if there's anything you can do to help.
I wouldn't mention PND. See how she reacts. See if she takes you up on it. If she doesn't, there's not much you can do.

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SufferingInSilence · 07/09/2006 17:04

Well, when I had PND, I thought that what I was feeling wasn't 'normal', allowed or possible. So I didn't talk about it even to my GP or DH BUT if I had known that wanting to hurt your baby is one symptom of PND, along with feeling down, thinking that nobodyelse can look after the baby except you are etc..., it would have helped me realized what was happening.
Agree that she might not talk to you about it but I know that if I had better information about it passed onto me at the time, I would have been able to seek help instead of recoiling unto myself. Sometimes information is just enough to open the gates and if she doesn't have PND then it just stays as it is, information.

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divastrop · 07/09/2006 19:50

the first time i suffered from pnd i thought it was just normal,it would have helped me if the subject came up in conversation at my post-natal group or something,even if i didnt want to say anything at the time it might have made me realise and give me the push to speak to my hv or gp.

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scootermum · 11/09/2006 12:39

Ok.I think I will give her a bell and arrange to meet up with her, (bit concerned it wont be for a while though as Im just into my second week back at work-and hating every minute, but I digress!, and maybe just bring up the subject casually and see if she opens up any.
Thanks for all your advice-I will let you know how it goes..