Almost every fifth young mother in Latvia faces postpartum depression after giving birth. This conclusion was reached by the authors of the largest study in the country dedicated to women's mental health after childbirth, writes Latvijas Avīze. The study, conducted by the Stradiņš University in collaboration with the Riga Maternity Hospital, showed that symptoms of postpartum depression are observed in 18% of women. This is approximately 50% higher than the average rate for Western European countries (12.9%) and slightly exceeds the average level in Eastern Europe (16.6%). Considering that about 13,000 children are born in Latvia each year, around 2,000–2,200 women may need help, notes the head of the study, Professor Elmars Rancāns, head of the Department of Psychiatry and Narcology at RSU. Until recently, there was no accurate data on the scale of the problem in Latvia. According to the professor, the study was the first to assess how widespread postpartum depression is in the country. Against this backdrop, a program called "Partnership of Midwives and Families" began operating in August, coordinated by the State Chancellery in collaboration with the Latvian Midwives Association. The project is funded by the European Social Fund. The program is aimed at young women under 24 years old who are expecting their first child and are between 16 and 28 weeks pregnant. It is open to expectant mothers facing medical or social difficulties. They receive free consultations with a midwife, one of whose tasks is to reduce the risk of developing postpartum depression or to help cope with its consequences. However, the scale of the program is currently significantly smaller than the estimated need. By July 2027, it is planned to support 200 women, whereas potentially more than two thousand young mothers may need assistance each year. Researchers are also concerned about another trend. About 30% of women who initially showed symptoms of anxiety or depression declined further consultations or stopped communicating with doctors. Meanwhile, approximately 40% of them subsequently developed symptoms that reached the level of clinical depression. The authors of the study believe that early detection of emotional problems and timely support can play a key role in maintaining the health of the mother and the well-being of the child.
