Tragic Loss of Young Mother Highlights the Reality of Postpartum Depression
High school sweethearts Mitchail and Brenda Encarnacion filled the early years of their marriage with excitement, before embarking on another kind of adventure. According to Mitchail, Brenda was "gung-ho" about the impending birth of their baby. "She was reading all these books. It was, like, YouTube videos. She made me a PowerPoint! It was like a full-time job for her," he said.
In October 2020, Brenda gave birth to their daughter, Evelyn. Yet, despite all their preparation, there was one thing they didn't see coming. "Sometimes, I'd catch her just, like, crying for no reason," Mitchail said. "And I would always ask her, and she'd be like, 'Yeah it's just hormones.' She just kept calling it 'Mommy brain.'"
As a paramedic, Mitchail said he recognized the signs of postpartum depression, and encouraged her to see a therapist, but says things didn't improve. "The morning before, she looked different," he said. "I could see it in her eyes that there was something wrong."
That day, nine months after giving birth, Brenda Encarnancion took her own life. She was 30 years old.
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Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition that can be triggered by factors such as genetics, stress, and changing hormones. Recent scans of the brain's medial prefrontal cortex have shown increased activity in this area among women experiencing PPD symptoms, compared to those without any symptoms. This provides evidence that PPD is a real medical illness and dispels the stigma surrounding it.
Lisette Lopez-Rose, a mother who experienced PPD after giving birth to her daughter Sybil in November 2020, didn't need a brain scan to know something was wrong. She described feeling discarded, like the meat of a crab shell that had been picked out. However, she never shared her suicidal thoughts with her doctors because she felt that everything was focused on the baby and not on her own well-being.
Lisette, who is a woman of color and Latina, feared that admitting her struggles would result in her baby being taken away. This fear prevented her from being honest about how the thoughts were affecting her. Eventually, she found help and now uses social media to share her journey and help destigmatize PPD.
However, statistics show that only a small percentage of diagnosed women, approximately six percent, receive treatment for postpartum depression. Shockingly, there are thousands more who never seek help at all. Joy Burkhard, the executive director of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, believes that the actual number of women suffering from this condition is likely underestimated. She attributes this to the fact that in the United States, women are often shuffled from one healthcare provider to another, with no single provider taking full responsibility for maternal mental health disorders. Burkhard highlights the lack of accountability as the main problem, questioning who should be responsible for detecting and implementing treatment plans to support women.
Traditional treatments for postpartum depression, such as antidepressants, require time to take effect, which new mothers often do not have. However, there is a glimmer of hope for these women as a new FDA-approved drug called Zurzuvae has been introduced this week. This pill is the first-ever medication specifically designed for postpartum depression. Dr. Deligiannidis, who conducted one of the trials, explains that the pill provides almost immediate relief when taken for 14 days. The rapid response of this treatment option has left her amazed, as it challenges the conventional belief that therapies take time to work.
Researchers have developed a new treatment for postpartum depression (PPD) that is being hailed as a game-changer. The treatment, called Zulresso, is an intravenous infusion that is administered over a 60-hour period. It has been shown to provide rapid relief from PPD symptoms, with some women experiencing improvement within hours.
The overall price tag on the treatment is around $16,000, and it's unclear at this time if or how much insurance will cover. There are other unknowns as well; experts say it should not be taken while breastfeeding as there is not enough data on the effects on the baby. However, researchers are hopeful that with more information, they will be able to provide guidance for lactating patients.
While Zulresso is seen as a significant advancement in treating PPD, experts stress that women still need support beyond medication. Joy Burkhard, founder of the organization "2020 Mom," emphasizes the need for comprehensive care and support for women experiencing PPD.
Stories like that of Mitchail Encarnacion, who lost his wife to PPD, highlight the importance of raising awareness and encouraging women to seek help. Encarnacion hopes that by sharing his story, more women will feel empowered to come forward and receive the support they need.
For more information on postpartum depression and available resources, please visit the website of the organization "2020 Mom."
- For support contact the Postpartum Support International Helpline at (800) 944-4773 (English and Spanish) or visit postpartum.net. Or, text 800-944-4773 for English, text 971-203-7773 for Spanish.
- Also, call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at (833) TLC-MAMA (833-852-6262)
- Dr. Kristina Deligiannidis, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health's Zucker Hillside Hospital, Manhasset, N.Y.
- Lisette Lopez-Rose (pmadlatinawarrior) on Instagram
- Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health
- Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance
- Images courtesy of Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
- Thanks to Alto Pharmacy
Story produced by Sara Kugel. Editor: Carol Ross.
See also:
- Eliminating the stigma surrounding suicide ("Sunday Morning")
- Donna's Law: A new suicide prevention tool ("Sunday Morning")
- SAINT: Hope for new treatment of depression ("Sunday Morning")
- Melissa & Doug co-founder opens up about her secret struggle ("Sunday Morning")
- Reaching out: How caring letters help in suicide prevention ("Sunday Morning")
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.
For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email [email protected].
