What should be we done about postnatal depression in Hong Kong?

DTS Lee, TKH Chung
Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong

Postnatal depression is one of the most common forms of psychiatric morbidity of child-bearing and causes a host of adverse psychosocial complications to the mother, the children, and the family. Recent studies have shown that 12% of local women have postnatal depression and most of them receive no meaningful medical attention. The validation of a local version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale has made systematic screening for postnatal depression feasible. However, such a screening programme should be backed up by well-resourced counselling and psychiatric services. Much remains to be done if a reasonable level of post-partum psychological care is to be provided. Additional funding is required to train nurse counsellors and set up postnatal mental health teams, as well as mother and child units.

Hong Kong Med J 1999;5:39-42

Key words: Depressive disorder; Health services needs and demands; Pregnancy complications; Puerperal disorders