This issue of JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports is themed around mental health to align with World Mental Health Day on October 10, and Mental Illness Awareness Week, which is held in October in many countries. Both events raise awareness of mental health issues and help people to understand those who are experiencing such issues.
The World Health Organization defines mental health as "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community".1(p.6) In this positive sense, it is more than the absence of mental disorder.1 For example, how the transition processes in different life or health situations affects people's mental health and welfare.2-4 Pregnancy is an example of the transition to parenthood. Better management of mental health during pregnancy can help mitigate problems such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders.5
Like the concept of mental health, the concept of mental illness (or mental disorder) is broad. Mental illnesses include a wide range and state of mental health problems and psychiatric disorders. Some can be mild, whereas more severe psychiatric illnesses, like schizophrenia or postpartum psychosis, can create heavy burdens for patients and their families.1,6,7
Poor perinatal mental health can have long-lasting adverse effects on a child's emotional health and physical and cognitive development.5 For example, after childbirth, the mother or father can experience so-called "baby blues", which is not as severe a condition as postpartum depression (PPD).7 The results of our systematic review in this issue suggest that PPD has a great influence on the well-being of mothers, fathers and children.8 Therefore, it is crucial to understand what parents experience following childbirth and to identify symptoms of PPD as early as possible. In addition, our systematic review shows that both mothers and fathers felt that they did not receive enough support from each other or from extended family (e.g. grandparents) and friends. New mothers' and fathers' own beliefs that good parents should not seek support prevented them from seeking and receiving the support they needed from significant others and healthcare providers. In these situations, when new mothers or fathers need help, it is important for health professionals to understand what these parents are experiencing so that they can assist both parents in the best possible ways. Healthcare professionals should evaluate depression that arises in mothers and fathers due to an imbalance between the parents' need for support and the support they actually receive.8 Similarly, Baldwin et al.3 also emphasized in their systematic review that new fathers need more support than they receive in preparation for fatherhood and partner relationship changes.
Not only does PPD cause suffering for parents and the entire family, it also has economic implications for society as a whole. Therefore, economic evaluations of interventions for PPD are needed to ensure optimal healthcare decision making and effective care.5,7,9 According to McDaid et al.,5 it is important to use economic arguments to support interventions for the prevention of mental illnesses. Gurung et al.9 have identified and assessed the benefits of interventions for postnatal depression in their systematic review of economic evaluations. Eligible studies reported cost-effective interventions compared with standard care, including additional support from health professionals, peer support and combined screening and treatment strategies.
Our systematic review8 in the current issue compiled the experiences of new mothers and fathers with PPD. Including both parents in the one project helps recognize how differently mothers and fathers experience PPD, and also identify the similarities in their experiences.
References