Postpartum depression and anxiety remain under-discussed in India

Opening up public conversations around postpartum mental health is crucial. Society must embrace those who have mustered the courage to seek help and got a step closer healing.

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Radhika Bhalla, who recently gave birth to her first child a couple of months ago, is facing emotional challenges that many new mothers experience. She is struggling with extreme sadness, anxiety, fatigue, frequent crying episodes, irritability, and withdraw from loved ones. Radhika is also grappling with the constant fear of not being a good mother, which is impacting on her relationship with her husband and other family members. After speaking with her gynaecologist about her mental state, she learned that she is suffering from postpartum depression, a condition that affects 22% of new mothers in the country. Though it can arise from multiple reasons, hormonal challenges post childbirth remains one of the most prevalent one.