56% of Low-Income Mothers Are Depressed

by Charlotte Hill · 2010-02-23 14:28:00 UTC
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Insomnia, persistent sadness, feelings of guilt, thoughts of harming yourself or your baby -- these are just a few of the symptoms associated with postpartum depression. The debilitating condition affects up to 14 percent of new mothers in the U.S. every year, a high number in itself. But according to a new study, this statistic skyrockets to 56 percent of low-income urban mothers.

Concerned? So are the University of Rochester Medical Center researchers who conducted the study. Linda H. Chaudron, M.D., called the results "unexpected," adding that low-income urban moms may represent "a group at high risk for depression." No big news there; the National Center for Children in Poverty knew in 2001 that "high levels of depressive symptoms exist in 25 percent to 57 percent" of women on welfare, and a UC-sponsored study from December claims that "low-income women are at a higher risk for depression than other income groups, and the majority of these women are untreated."

That's the kicker -- the majority of low-income women with depression don't get the help they need. The effects of their illness extend beyond the women themselves to their families, making it especially hard for their kids to function socially and academically and often leading to psychological problems down the line.

Not much research has been done on treatment options for low-income women with depression, but the few promising approaches all focus on helping these women find work. Employment and depression are integrally related; unsatisfactory work conditions or job loss often cause depression, making it extremely difficult for women to secure and retain employment in the future.

But focusing on employment alone isn't enough. Public health researchers must determine why these women are suffering from depression in the first place, and at rates so disproportionately high. Only through this sort of dedicated analysis can we hope to uncover the triggers of low-income depression and break its debilitating cycle for good.

Photo credit: tamakisono

Charlotte Hill currently serves as the social media fellow for EARN, a California nonprofit that helps low-income workers save money to create long-term prosperity.
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