Women's Experiences of Postnatal Depression in Samoa

Postnatal Depression (PND) is a common condition that mothers experience after delivery. Some perceive postnatal depression as an illness while others view it as an abnormal behaviour that is caused by social stressors. Postnatal Depression (PND) is not well understood in Samoa because there has been no research undertaken on this topic. Furthermore, it is not a topic of discussion among family members and health professionals. Services for PND are delivered under the Samoa Mental Health Service (SMHS) located within the Ministry of Health. About 99 percent of PND cases are not known and only 1 percent of women accessing the Samoa Mental Health Service (SMHS) are documented in their records (Samoa Mental Health Database, 2019). This suggests that many Samoan women with PND conditions are not getting the treatment they need and deserve clinically, psychologically, and culturally.