BENGALURU: For the first time, Karnataka’s health and family welfare department will include questions on perinatal depression in Thayi cards which are issued to women seeking maternity services through the public healthcare system. Nimhans has drawn up a detailed questionnaire for the purpose.
Questions such as ‘Of late have you been experiencing stress, anxiety and fear?’ and ‘In the past, have you suffered from or were treated for any mental health issues?’ will now be a part of routine screening for pregnant women and new mothers visiting government maternity homes.
Psychiatrists say they have observed that even women bubbling with energy can suffer from depression during pregnancy as there are several factors, including pressure from the family, lack of a support system, work-related stress and safety fears over the baby, which influence them. Asking a few basic questions about the woman’s mental health during the antenatal check-up will provide a window to the woman’s mind and her worries, health department authorities say.
