Treat Mum, Cure the Kids
March 27, 2006 by kate baggott
Filed under Mental Health
The evidence is mounting that a happy, healthy mother leads to happy, healthy kids.
“If you’ve got a role model in your life that can’t cope or deal with stress, you’re not going to learn any skills yourself,” says mother Angie Hill in a recent article in the Toronto Star on Post Partum Depression.
Eight months after the birth of her son, the radio show host sought help for what she knew were depressive episodes.
According to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association proves that Hill’s seeking treatment not only helps her, but her son as well:
- Treating depressed mothers rapidly reduces the likelihood of their children having major depression, anxiety and disruptive behaviour disorders. Mothers who remain depressed increase the risk of their children having those disorders, says the Star report on the study.
Nice article – thanks! I just read another review of that study in another paper somewhere – perhaps the NY Times?
I am happy to read your blog as it reminds me to take of me so I am better at taking care of this little man! Here are positive things I have done since having the baby that work for me so far:
hired a terrificly ruthless cleaning woman!
put the fussy baby in a snuggly and walked in the park to listen to the birds!
Initiated bottle feedings with Dad!
initiated a search for a part time nanny!
Made a concerted effort to have a hot shower and a nap every day(still working in the naps, but I just put the baby in a chair in teh bathroom and the noise of the shower soothes my little boy! He lies there and gurgles!)
Any other suggestions?
I totally agree with this – at least I hope that is the case. I try to keep *my* happiness a priority in big hopes that it will rub off on my children.