| A conceptual model of women's experiences of help-seeking with postpartum depression was developed following an analysis of themes identified in previously published material on postpartum depression and help-seeking: depression in general; postpartum depression specifically; affect; guilt and shame; perfectionism; agency, and help-seeking. Scholarly research in each of these areas was explored and was applied to the voices of women who suffered from postpartum depression.; The women's voices were drawn from previously published qualitative research. Inclusion criteria for each study was that it be feminist in nature and utilized both triangulation and verification with participants to ensure reliability and validity. Three studies met these criteria, contributing the voices of 46 women. Although they did not meet all inclusion criteria, two additional studies with similar findings and 14 voices were also included, resulting in a total of 60 voices. For cross-study validation, each finding had to be supported by a minimum of two voices in at least two studies which expressed each finding. Finally, the author triangulated her own conclusions with two professionals within psychology, versed in feminist research.; Following Beck's model of depression, it was found that the women experienced subjective and cognitive distress, leading to significant self-criticism and contributing to a deep sense of self-alienation and a crisis in identity. This happened at the same time the women were going through the more common transitional experiences of becoming a mother, making both extremely challenging. From this place, they were expected to find the words for the unanticipated experience, relay that experience to another person, and ask for help.; Asking for help may be as difficult as actually receiving the help. The findings suggest that the earliest stages of help-seeking, commonly seen as suffering in silence, are anything but silent. Although possibly not outwardly observable, participants appeared very active in attempting to help themselves and seeking information. The author suggests this stage is a necessary precursor to outward help-seeking. Many commonly-expressed barriers to help included: lack of helpful information; their own resistance to telling others; cultural barriers; lack of understanding by healthcare professionals, and unhelpful recommendations and/or comments by healthcare professionals. |
