X
theAsianparent Malaysia Logo
theAsianparent Malaysia Logo
EnglishMalay
  • Becoming a Parent
    • Project Sidekicks
    • Pregnancy
    • Losing A Baby
    • Conceiving a Baby
    • Adoption
    • Labour & Delivery
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Child
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Parenting
    • Parenting Tips
    • Marriage, Relationship & Sex
    • Viral News
  • Health
    • Illness
    • Allergy & Syndrome
    • Vaccinations
  • Breastfeeding & Nutrition
    • Breastfeeding
    • Healthy Meal Tips
    • Formula
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • Primary School
    • Middle School
    • Special Education
  • Money Parenting
    • Tips for Parents
    • Tips for Toddlers
    • Tips for Older Kids
    • The 5 Personas
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Holiday
    • Spirituality
    • Home
  • TAP Recommends
  • Press Room
  • Products

Mum kills herself after suffering postpartum depression in silence

31 Aug, 2016
Mum kills herself after suffering postpartum depression in silenceMum kills herself after suffering postpartum depression in silence

“There is so much emphasis on the baby It’s really important to ask the mum, you know, how are you doing?”

What most people fail to realise when it comes to depression is that it’s not always visible to the naked eye. Depressed people may look okay, and at times even happy, but what goes on in their heads is entirely different.

That’s why when they finally come clean about it, their friends and loved ones are surprised.

That’s how Allison Goldstein’s friends and family felt when she took her own life after battling with depression.

On the outside it seemed as if she had it all. She was healthy, worked a good job, had a loving husband and an adorable daughter.

Then one day she dropped her four-month-old at the daycare, drove down a dirt road, and killed herself.

But not before writing a goodbye letter in her e-mail, apologising to her family.

“I’m so sorry that I didn’t know how to describe this pain [to you] and [how to] seek help,” she wrote.

But hers was not just mere depression. Instead it was the kind called Postpartum Depression, an affliction that affects new mothers.

Now Allison’s parents David and Carol Matthews are raising awareness to the disorder, because if it could happen to their Allison, it could happen to any mother.

“If this can happen to Allison, it can happen to anybody,” her mother told NBC in an interview.

“Just the days before, she was just the happiest, smiling, showing no signs at all of any internal emotional distress,” said her father David.

It’s important to note that PPD’s symptoms vary, and that they are usually internal, including feelings of fear, anxiety, worthlessness, guilt, numbness, emptiness, hopelessness, and despair.

Many mothers tend to hide these thoughts and keep it inside because they’re ashamed that people may discredit their feelings, or that they may be judged.

As a result they end up feeling like bad wives, terrible mothers, and feel as though there’s nothing they can do about it.

According to the founder of Postpartum Support Virginia, Adrienne Griffen, suicide is the leading cause of death for women in the first year postpartum.

Now the question is this: how can people help women if PPD’s symptoms are internal and can’t easily be detected?

Adrienne says that sometimes even the smallest things like asking simple and sincere questions can be the best thing one can do.

“There is so much emphasis on the baby,” she says. “It’s really important to ask the mom, you know, how are you doing? How are you dealing with these changes?”

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below or check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful parenting news and tips. 

Partner Stories
Lotus’s Baby Fair Kembali Lagi! Rebut Promosi Terhebat Barangan Keperluan Bayi Anda Di Sini!
Lotus’s Baby Fair Kembali Lagi! Rebut Promosi Terhebat Barangan Keperluan Bayi Anda Di Sini!
Hanya Satu Tempat Untuk Semua Keperluan Bayi Anda - Pesta Bayi Lotus’s Malaysia!
Hanya Satu Tempat Untuk Semua Keperluan Bayi Anda - Pesta Bayi Lotus’s Malaysia!
Rangsang Pemikiran Kreatif Dan Imaginasi Anak Dengan Cara Mudah Ini!
Rangsang Pemikiran Kreatif Dan Imaginasi Anak Dengan Cara Mudah Ini!
Udara Di Dalam Rumah 2 Kali Ganda Lebih Tercemar Dari Udara Luar? Ini 5 Tips Dari Dr Amanda Untuk Anda Ubah Kualiti Pengudaraan!
Udara Di Dalam Rumah 2 Kali Ganda Lebih Tercemar Dari Udara Luar? Ini 5 Tips Dari Dr Amanda Untuk Anda Ubah Kualiti Pengudaraan!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

James Martinez

  • Home
  • /
  • Berita Tular
  • /
  • Mum kills herself after suffering postpartum depression in silence
Share:
  • Dad’s Not Okay—Postpartum Depression in Men

    Dad’s Not Okay—Postpartum Depression in Men

  • My Experience with Postpartum Anxiety

    My Experience with Postpartum Anxiety

  • Senarai Nama Bayi Klasik & Tradisional Yang Jarang Digunakan, Mana Satu Pilihan Ibu?

    Senarai Nama Bayi Klasik & Tradisional Yang Jarang Digunakan, Mana Satu Pilihan Ibu?

  • Dilahirkan Dengan Dua Wajah, Bayi Ini Dianggap Sebagai Pembawa Rezeki Hingga Ibu Bapa Enggan Rawatan!

    Dilahirkan Dengan Dua Wajah, Bayi Ini Dianggap Sebagai Pembawa Rezeki Hingga Ibu Bapa Enggan Rawatan!

app info
get app banner
  • Dad’s Not Okay—Postpartum Depression in Men

    Dad’s Not Okay—Postpartum Depression in Men

  • My Experience with Postpartum Anxiety

    My Experience with Postpartum Anxiety

  • Senarai Nama Bayi Klasik & Tradisional Yang Jarang Digunakan, Mana Satu Pilihan Ibu?

    Senarai Nama Bayi Klasik & Tradisional Yang Jarang Digunakan, Mana Satu Pilihan Ibu?

  • Dilahirkan Dengan Dua Wajah, Bayi Ini Dianggap Sebagai Pembawa Rezeki Hingga Ibu Bapa Enggan Rawatan!

    Dilahirkan Dengan Dua Wajah, Bayi Ini Dianggap Sebagai Pembawa Rezeki Hingga Ibu Bapa Enggan Rawatan!

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Conceiving a Baby
    • Adoption
    • Pregnancy
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Marriage, Relationship & Sex
  • Baby
    • Baby Names
    • Ages & Stages
    • Parenting Tips
    • Breastfeeding & Nutrition
  • Health
    • Fitness
    • Allergy & Syndrome
    • Illness
    • Healthy Meal Tips
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • Primary School
    • Middle School
    • Special Education
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Holiday
    • Contests & Promotions
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2022. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
Kami ingin menghantar anda pemberitahuan untuk berita terkini dan gaya hidup terkini.