Analysis of the Veracity of Media Portrayal of Postpartum Depression Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 10-15% of mothers in the United States with detrimental effects to mother and child throughout the lifespan. (Gress-smith, Leucken, 2012) The occurrence of a mood or anxiety disorder following pregnancy is a common complication of pregnancy and can lead to devastating effects for both mother and child. This paper seeks to assess the veracity of a recent article published by Kelly Wallace of CNN concerning PPD as it relates to a recent rash of tragedies in New York City involving mothers throwing their infants out of multi-story windows resulting in multiple infant fatalities. Postpartum depression is defined as a depressive
…show more content…
The article cited three occurrences of infanticide in New York City within the last three months, specifically 27 year-old, Tenisha Fearon, who has been charged with murder after throwing her 6 month-old infant out of a six-story window resulting in the infant’s death. (Wallace, 2015) The use of such a poignant example of the effects that PPD may have on a mothers psyche was quite dramatic and the greatest critique for this article lies in the use of infanticide to draw attention to an issue where infanticide is a rare and severe outcome of this complex mental illness. The article employs a fear tactic and shock in an attempt to entice readers to read more about the effects of PPD on mothers. Although there is truth in PPD causing an increase in maternal neurotic behaviors, infant abuse, infant neglect, and infanticide there exists an entirely different side of the PPD spectrum which includes symptoms such as difficulty with infant attachment, insomnia, anxiety, tearfulness and fatigue. By focusing on the most severe and devastating symptoms and effects of PPD the mother who is suffering with less severe yet debilitating symptoms becomes fearful of a diagnosis of PPD resulting in increased incidence of concealment of symptoms from healthcare professionals and therapists. The intention of this article is pure and it attempts to draw attention to a very important issue while promoting a logical solution of depression screenings for prenatal and postnatal women. However, the execution of the article and the complete sacrifice of tact for the benefit of drama created fear instead of promotion of therapeutic education about
The article cited three occurrences of infanticide in New York City within the last three months, specifically 27 year-old, Tenisha Fearon, who has been charged with murder after throwing her 6 month-old infant out of a six-story window resulting in the infant’s death. (Wallace, 2015) The use of such a poignant example of the effects that PPD may have on a mothers psyche was quite dramatic and the greatest critique for this article lies in the use of infanticide to draw attention to an issue where infanticide is a rare and severe outcome of this complex mental illness. The article employs a fear tactic and shock in an attempt to entice readers to read more about the effects of PPD on mothers. Although there is truth in PPD causing an increase in maternal neurotic behaviors, infant abuse, infant neglect, and infanticide there exists an entirely different side of the PPD spectrum which includes symptoms such as difficulty with infant attachment, insomnia, anxiety, tearfulness and fatigue. By focusing on the most severe and devastating symptoms and effects of PPD the mother who is suffering with less severe yet debilitating symptoms becomes fearful of a diagnosis of PPD resulting in increased incidence of concealment of symptoms from healthcare professionals and therapists. The intention of this article is pure and it attempts to draw attention to a very important issue while promoting a logical solution of depression screenings for prenatal and postnatal women. However, the execution of the article and the complete sacrifice of tact for the benefit of drama created fear instead of promotion of therapeutic education about