Postpartum Depression
How Google is making it easier for women to assess
their symptoms and access the resources they need
In the midst of the holiday season and ongoing pandemic, new moms are experiencing a
unique set of stressors and may be feeling more isolated. As a result, it’s important that
women have access to the resources and help they need.
The postpartum reality
The US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health (OWH)
estimates that about
1 in 9 women
experience symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD)
after giving birth, making it one of the most common postpartum complications.
Women who experience PPD
may feel:
EXHAUSTED
IRRITABLE
INTENSELY SAD,
ANXIOUS OR
HOPELESS
These feelings can prevent them from being able to carry on with their day-to-day lives.
The holiday blues
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reported that:
ABOUT
24%
of people with mental illness find that the
holidays make their condition
“a lot” worse.
40%
of people find that the holidays make
their condition
“somewhat” worse.
The pandemic’s impact
The ongoing pandemic has left many new moms in a more vulnerable
state than they were to begin with. According to
recent study results
,
when asked about the impact of COVID-19:
78%
of new mothers reported
an increase in stress.
When asked about their mental health, responses from new mothers
showed
the serious toll the pandemic has caused.
PRE-PANDEMIC
DURING PANDEMIC
% of women who had responses indicating
depression
15%
pre-pandemic
41%
during pandemic
% of women who had responses indicating
moderate to high anxiety
29%
pre-pandemic
72%
during pandemic
The case for screening
Studies
have shown that when clinically validated tools like the
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) are used to
routinely screen new mothers for PPD, the likelihood of diagnosis
is improved – enabling them to seek treatment in a timely manner.
Support from loved ones
Several
studies have demonstrated
that support from loved
ones has a measurable impact on women experiencing PPD:
STRESS
REDUCTION
QUICKER
RECOVERY TIME
IMPROVEMENT
IN MOOD
OVERALL SENSE
OF WELLBEING
How Google can help
Millions of people come to Google each
day searching for answers to their health
questions, many of which relate to mental
health symptoms.
Now, when a new mother or her partner
comes to Google looking for information,
support or resources related to PPD, we’ve
developed a tool that can be used by the
new mother to take the EPDS
questionnaire, and connect her to
important resources. This assessment
covers many of the same questions a
health professional may ask.
This is the fourth mental health self-assessment directly available from Google Search.
Users who search for information about anxiety, depression and PTSD can also access clinically
validated questionnaires that provide more information to help understand potential symptoms
and, in collaboration with
NAMI
and
OWH
, links to resources about those conditions.
Your answers in the screeners
are private and secure. Google does
not collect or share answers or results
from the questionnaire.
Learn more by searching
postpartum depression
If you think you or a loved one might be experiencing
symptoms of postpartum depression, search on Google for
more information and you'll have access to a clinically-validated
questionnaire called the EPDS.
Learn more
It's important to note that this self-assessment is for informational purposes and not
intended to help you diagnose a medical condition. You should talk to a doctor or other
care provider for advice or to discuss what your results may mean for your overall health.