Destigmatizing Maternal and Postpartum Depression, Family Focus Series

KSEE24 partners with First Five Fresno County for a series called Family Focus.

We’ve been discussing postpartum depression. Not only are expecting mothers having a hard time coping with it and new mothers are too.

Many moms and families are looking for ways to understand the condition.

"It makes me angry because what should be a women’s happiest time in life, she’s actually cheated out of," said Susan Cordell, Care Coordinator.

Postpartum Depression is a common condition affecting new mothers. Susan Cordell, registered nurse has worked with some of the most extreme cases of postpartum depression in the Central Valley.

Cordell is a care coordinator for ‘Nuture to Nuture’. It’s a program with california health collaborative in fresno that provide counseling and support groups, they nuture mothers so they can nuture their child.

"It impacts over 20-percent of women who are pregnant or just became new parents," said Lilith Assadourian, Program Evaluation Director.

Lilith Assadourian is the First 5 Fresno County program evaluation director, she says some women experience feelings they’ve never felt before. "Even if they wanted this pregnancy…this baby, the same time they’re experiencing this intense feelings of not wanting to do anything with the baby," said Assadourian.

First 5 Fresno County works closely with ‘Nuture to Nuture’ and the Fresno County Behavioral Health System as they provide services ranging from helping mothers find a doctor to scheduling home therapy.

"Awareness" is what these organizations are looking to achieve. A woman should enjoy being a new mom instead they’re feeling detached.

Not only are mothers struggling, families are affected too.

It’s an illness that is covered with shame and guilt and that impacts their ability to seek help.