Postpartum Depression is a Treatable Illness

By Marci Starkman

Letter to the Editor, August 15th, 2000

We grieve another subway tragedy. The latest, involving Dr. Suzanne Killinger-Johnson and her infant son, was particularly painful for me as a psychotherapist, a parent, and also as a woman who has experienced depression.

Whether Dr. Killinger-Johnson was suffering from postpartum depression will always be conjecture. We may never know the circumstances or feelings that precipitated her desperate leap off the subway platform with her baby.

Postpartum depression affects 10-28% of women, not selective as to whom it strikes in terms of race, age, religion, employment status or finances. It is the most common complication of childbirth besides hemorrhoids. Women who carry babies through conception, miscarriage, abortion and those who adopt are susceptible and at risk.

This illness needs increased awareness and education, and to be addressed politically and within the medical community. Non-medical professionals, because of government policy, remain outside the OHIP umbrella, and are unable to serve women who seek help at this critical time in their lives. Non-profit organizations such as PASS-CAN, the national clearinghouse for postpartum depression information and referrals, as well as Public Health, are short of funding and face the same situation; unable to meet the demands of this population.

This unfortunate situation often forces women to wait (often weeks or months) for medical or psychiatric care, perhaps with a physician who may not recognize or have knowledge of perinatal mood disorders, nor how to treat them. This is totally unacceptable!

Women need to know that postpartum depression is a treatable illness. It is not their fault. They will get better!

I implore them to seek help and support before another preventable tragedy occurs.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Killingers and Johnsons.