Br J Community Nurs. 2001 Jul; 6(7): 363-8.

The role of alternative medicine in treating postnatal depression.

Mantle F.

Department of Public and Community Health, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford.

Postnatal depression is a serious and debilitating condition. Due to the perceived stigma of mental illness, the incidence of it is under-reported and many mothers refuse psychiatric help, either assuming postnatal depression to be normal or because of the potential consequences of having a psychiatric history. Community practitioners who are in contact enhance the supportive care they give to these women. This article discusses the evidence for a number of these interventions which mothers may find more acceptable than orthodox treatment.