Motherhood mental risk

Press, 28 August 1982, Page 6

Motherhood mental risk

PA Hamilton ’ Motherhood in New Zealand is now a mental health hazard, according to a research officer for the Mental Health Foundation. J? Doctor Hilary Haines told The Psychological Society’s •conference yesterday that .’depression affects 10 to 20 per cent of mothers with pre-school children. Housewives sought psychi■atric help more often than

any other “Cupational group, and ,:>e biggest consumers o! psychiatric medication, sot said. Life satisfaction was lowest among women with preschoolers. Dr Haines suggested that a warning be placed on marriage certificates similar to those on cigarette packs. “What union would tolerate the working conditions that we expect mothers to put up . with?” . i L

A West Auckland study of new mothers showed'that 50 per cent would have liked ; more information about being depressed on returning home after birth. Dr Haines said. “Society off-loads the re r sponsibility for bringing up a child on to the isolated mother in the nuclear family, which is a stressful environment, and then is ready to blame mothers, when things go wrong,” she said.