Left untreated, depression can result in all sorts of problems for people. But by and large, the problems tend to be focused on the depressed person’s life. Sometimes, however, a person’s depression can spill out into other people’s lives in unintended and potentially harmful ways.
A new study suggests that moms who suffer from depression are three times more likely to have kids who have an accidental injury.
A likely cause for the link between severe maternal depression and young children’s injury risk is that chronically depressed mothers may not appropriately safeguard the physical environments that children engage in, [the researchers] said.
Another cause may be that symptoms of depression include inattention, poor concentration and irritability, which might lead to poor or inconsistent supervision and enforcement of safety-related rules.
Indeed, inattention and the ability to concentrate and stay focused is a common symptom of depression. So is lack of energy, so if your child is doing something potentially dangerous, and you don’t feel like getting up from the couch or your bed to check on him or her, an accident can occur.
We shouldn’t blame the moms with depression here as they are very much just victims of the depression. It does reinforce the importance — and safety considerations of those around us — of seeking treatment for these kinds of serious mental disorders sooner rather than later.
And if a mom ever needed a reason to seek treatment for depression, we’re hoping this new data provides one.
Read the full article: Depressed Moms Place Kids at Risk for Injury
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4 Responses to “Depressed Moms May Put Kids at Risk” (Pingbacks/trackbacks not shown below)
Alison Hymes at 4:12 pm on
May 15th, 2008
Um, what about depressed dads? Lots of stay at home dads these days and even if they don’t stay home, they still participate in child-rearing.
Alison Hymes at 9:27 pm on
May 15th, 2008
I see you don’t read your comments as you have spam comments left up. Never mind.
Cynthia Armistead at 12:46 pm on
May 21st, 2008
I’m right there with Alison. Why not say “depressed parents” instead of just talking about mothers? Why are mothers always held to higher standards than fathers?
It is my experience that men are generally more reluctant to acknowledge or seek treatment for ANY mental health issue–or health issues, period. They see such things as admissions of weakness and attacks against their masculinity.
I am a mother who sought treatment when my child was an infant, because I felt that I owed it to my daughter. Her father never would do so, and his depression and rage problems had a serious negative effect on her.
marie at 9:17 am on
May 23rd, 2008
My daughter in law has suffered from depression most of her life and I have always had concerns about my grandchildren’s safety as she seems totally unaware of where they are and what they are doing at very young ages. I’m also concerned about her influence on them because of her raging and yelling. What can a mother-in-law do?
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Um, what about depressed dads? Lots of stay at home dads these days and even if they don’t stay home, they still participate in child-rearing.
I see you don’t read your comments as you have spam comments left up. Never mind.
I’m right there with Alison. Why not say “depressed parents” instead of just talking about mothers? Why are mothers always held to higher standards than fathers?
It is my experience that men are generally more reluctant to acknowledge or seek treatment for ANY mental health issue–or health issues, period. They see such things as admissions of weakness and attacks against their masculinity.
I am a mother who sought treatment when my child was an infant, because I felt that I owed it to my daughter. Her father never would do so, and his depression and rage problems had a serious negative effect on her.
My daughter in law has suffered from depression most of her life and I have always had concerns about my grandchildren’s safety as she seems totally unaware of where they are and what they are doing at very young ages. I’m also concerned about her influence on them because of her raging and yelling. What can a mother-in-law do?
