Motherhood and mental illness

Carol Bates1, Carol Paeglis

  • 1National Patient Safety Agency.

There is limited published data on the prevalence of motherhood and mental health problems. Carol Bates and Carol Paeglis outline the findings of a report on a 34-year-old Asian psychiatrist who killed herself and her three-month-old daughter. The report considers this tragedy was preventable. It highlights that mothers are more at risk of dying from suicide during a relapse of mental illness than from any other medical problem. There is a need for greater awareness among midwives and mothers of the risks of mental illness in order to provide adequate safeguards for mothers and babies.

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