# Perinatal depressive symptoms and received support from health professionals: results from the national FinChildren survey

## TL;DR

The study finds that prenatal depressive symptoms are linked to unmet support needs, which predict poor postpartum mental health in parents.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific types of prenatal support that can reduce postpartum depressive symptoms in parents with depressive symptoms.

## Key findings

- Prenatal depressive symptoms are associated with a higher need for all types of support from health professionals.
- Unmet prenatal support needs predict postpartum depressive symptoms or mental strain in both mothers and fathers.
- Support for mood and fear of childbirth is particularly important for reducing postpartum symptoms in depressive parents.

## Abstract

Perinatal depressive symptoms affect one in 10 parents. However, there is a lack of knowledge on issues related to early and appropriate support for depressive parents. The study investigated what kind of support depressive parents need and receive prenatally from health professionals and whether the received support moderates the association between prenatal depressive symptoms and postpartum mental health.

The FinChildren survey for parents of babies aged 3–6 months (8977 mothers, 5825 fathers) was conducted in 2020. Parents evaluated their current mental health at the time and prenatal depressive symptoms and support needed (e.g. parenthood, mood, fear of childbirth) retrospectively.

Prenatal depressive symptoms (mothers 29.0%, fathers 12.7%) were associated with the need for all types of support, and inadequate support was associated with poorer postpartum mental health for all parents. For prenatal depressive parents, prenatal support for mood, and for prenatally depressive fathers, support in the case of fear of childbirth were important elements in reducing postpartum depressive symptoms or mental strain.

The study design was retrospective and cross-sectional. A screening tool was used to identify prenatal depressive symptoms without a clinically relevant cut-off point.

Prenatally depressive parents’ support needs do not only concern mental health. Unmet support needs during pregnancy were highly predictive for postpartum depressive symptoms or mental strain. Adequate support for prenatal mood and in the case of paternal fear of childbirth is important, but further research is needed on the most relevant combinations of support issues and practices to support depressive parents.