Understanding Mental Health of New Mothers.

• Position: POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

"Maternal mental health has long been undervalued," says Sarah J. Kilpatrick, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, Calif. "While pregnancy is a normal part of many women's lives, it is also stressful for many reasons and associated with an increased risk for depression and anxiety, both before and after having the baby."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga., 11% of women who give birth each year report symptoms of postpartum depression. Many specialists believe the condition is even more prevalent, but the stigma associated with mental illness can prevent new mothers from seeking help.

The need is so great that Cedars-Sinai has launched a Postpartum Depression Screening, Education, and Referral Program to evaluate all women who give birth at the hospital--more than 6,500 each year. New mothers showing signs of moderate-to-severe depression are provided referrals for interventions that can include talk therapy, support groups, medication, and lifestyle changes.

The precise causes and scope of depression associated with childbirth are not...