Postpartum depression rates double in past decade

Diagnoses of postpartum depression more than doubled from 2010 to 2021 from 9.4% to 19%, a Kaiser Permanente analysis of more than 400,000 pregnancies found, with the largest increases seen in Asian and Pacific Islander (280% increase) and non-Hispanic Black (140% increase) women. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found the likelihood of postpartum depression increased with higher pre-pregnancy body mass index. The authors acknowledge rising postpartum depression rates could reflect improved screening and diagnosis practices, but stress the need to develop and implement preventative interventions. Separately, the Health Resources and Services Administration announced a nationwide campaign to raise public awareness of the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. (JAMA Network Open article, 11/20/24)