Coping Strategies for Suicidal Ideations During Pregnancy
Pregnancy can be a transformative period, but it can also come with challenges, especially when it comes to mental health. Here's a look at some key points to consider.
Mental Health Support for Pregnant Women
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are respected therapeutic techniques that can provide support for perinatal mental health. These therapies can help pregnant women process their emotions and build effective coping skills.
Safe Medication Options
Several safe psychotropic medications can be taken during pregnancy, making it possible for women to manage their mental health conditions effectively.
The Risk of Suicidal Thoughts
Studies show that suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self-harm among pregnant women almost tripled between 2006 and 2017. Some research suggests that between 3 and 33% of women experience suicidal ideation during pregnancy.
Risk factors for suicidal thoughts during pregnancy include prior mental health conditions (especially depression and anxiety), low socioeconomic status, history of trauma, social isolation or lack of support, partner violence, HIV infection, sleep disturbances, and associated stressors such as fears about parenthood and unstable life circumstances. Black women and women from low-income backgrounds are noted to have a significantly higher risk.
Contributing Factors
Specific contributors to suicidal thoughts during pregnancy are complex and multifactorial. Mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and severe psychiatric illnesses, notably increase the risk and are strongly linked to suicidal ideation and behavior. Social determinants, like low income, educational level, partner violence, and insufficient social supports, exacerbate the risk, sometimes mediated by sleep disturbances and feelings of isolation.
Addressing Suicidal Thoughts
Addressing suicidal thoughts during pregnancy involves several steps. OB-GYNs and prenatal care providers should screen for suicidal ideation and mental health symptoms routinely, even when overt depression is not apparent. Integrated mental health care, including referral to mental health professionals who specialize in perinatal care, is critical. Treatment plans should include management of depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
Strengthening social connections, providing community resources, and addressing intimate partner violence can reduce isolation and stress. Providers must foster an environment where pregnant individuals feel safe discussing mental health without stigma or judgment. Specific clinical interventions, such as treating insomnia pharmacologically or behaviorally during pregnancy, can reduce subsequent postpartum depression and potentially suicidal ideation.
High-Risk Groups
For populations like HIV-positive pregnant women, comprehensive care addressing medical, psychological, and social factors is essential.
Given that mental health conditions are a leading cause of pregnancy-related death (including deaths by suicide), prioritizing perinatal mental health screening and support is a vital public health strategy. Early intervention can not only improve maternal well-being but also positively influence infant outcomes by reducing risks associated with prenatal stress.
Self-Care and Support
A self-care plan, including mindfulness practices, exercise, and healthy eating, can help manage stress during pregnancy. Engaging in activities you enjoy, getting enough sleep, and being in nature are effective ways to take care of yourself during pregnancy. Talking to someone you trust, such as a partner, friend, family member, or healthcare professional, can make a powerful difference in your mental well-being during pregnancy.
Crisis Support
If you're in immediate danger, call or text 988. If you're having suicidal thoughts while pregnant, prioritize your safety first and seek help immediately by contacting a mental health crisis line, your OB-GYN, emergency services, or Postpartum Support International. Online therapy is available for perinatal mental health support.
[1] American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (2016). Committee Opinion No. 678: Suicide and suicide attempts during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Obstet Gynecol, 128(3), 593-596.
[2] Swain, S., & Wisner, K. L. (2018). Perinatal mental health. BMJ, 362, k2839.
[3] Grote, M. M., & Wisner, K. L. (2018). Perinatal mental health in HIV-infected women. HIV Clinical Trials, 19(2), 102-117.
[4] American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2021). Maternal mental health. Retrieved from https://afsp.org/about-suicide/risk-factors/maternal-mental-health/
[5] National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Depression during pregnancy and postpartum. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression-during-pregnancy-and-postpartum-depression/index.shtml
- Licensed therapists specializing in perinatal care offer Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), providing support for pregnant women's emotional processing and skill development.
- In certain cases, safe psychotropic medications can be taken during pregnancy, ensuring effective management of mental health conditions.
- The risk of suicidal thoughts among pregnant women almost tripled from 2006 to 2017, with sources indicating that between 3 and 33% of women experience such thoughts during pregnancy.
- Depression, anxiety, low socioeconomic status, traumatic history, social isolation, partner violence, HIV infection, sleep disturbances, and related stressors are risk factors for suicidal thoughts during pregnancy, with Black women and women from low-income backgrounds being particularly at risk.
- To address suicidal thoughts during pregnancy, health professionals should routinely screen for suicidal ideation and mental health symptoms, utilize integrated mental health care, and focus on treating depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
- Self-care, community resources, and intimate partner violence prevention strategies help pregnant individuals manage stress, while crisis support options like 988, mental health crisis lines, OB-GYNs, emergency services, and Postpartum Support International are available for immediate help. Online therapy is a valuable resource for perinatal mental health support.
