What if we could prevent postpartum depression? I have yet to see a 100% surefire answer on how to do that, but we may be getting closer. The keyseems to beSUPPORTING NEW MOTHERS (!) closely and carefully in the first year.

Last year, I reported on a study conducted in Canada about the ability of peer support to either prevent or lessen the symptoms of postpartum depression. The study, conducted by Cindy-Lee Dennis at the University of Toronto, found that having trained volunteer mothers make regular phone calls to moms who have been identified as at-risk for PPD between 2 and 12 weeks postpartum reduced the number of women who developed symptoms requiring medical treatment.

Last week, another study conducted in the UK and published in the journal Psychological Medicine found that regular support from trained workers reduced the incidence of postpartum depression.New motherswere 30% less likely to develop PPD if they were attended to by a National Health Service health visitor who received specific training on screening for depression and on basic listening and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. As reported in the Telegraph:

"The primary role of a health visitor is to check the progress of the new born and give advice on matters like breast feeding. However, they often provide invaluable friendly support for mothers in the months after birth.

Professor Terry Brugha, a psychiatrist at Leicester University, said: 'Up until now, it was thought that depression could only be treated when it is picked up by a GP or health visitor.

'But this study shows that women are less likely to become depressed in the year after childbirth if they are attended by an NHS health visitor who has undergone additional training in specific mental health assessment and in psychological approaches based on either cognitive behavioural or listening techniques.

'Women receiving usual care were significantly more likely to develop depression six months after childbirth.'"

What's more, Science Daily reported that such training was cost effective, even taking into account the costs of that extra training.

In Katherine's dream world of tomorrow, every single OB/GYN will take a complete social and medical history of newly pregnant patients. He or she will be aware of the variety of risk factors that exist for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and will ask questions to identify whether a patient has any of them. Then, at-risk patients will receive specialized education on these illnesses,screenings,and extra attention throughout the first year postpartum from people who have been trained to provide emotional support. What a lovely world it will be.