Halle Bailey Talks Postpartum: “I Have Severe, Severe Postpartum Depression”

It’s estimated that one in seven women deal with postpartum depression but the numbers are a little murkier when it comes to Black women. The lack of data can be attributed to how many don’t speak out about the condition. That’s why Halle Bailey’s honesty about her recent battle with postpartum depression struck a chord with so many women.  How Postpartum Affects the Black Community Despite not having as much data about Black women’s postpartum depression as they would like, some studies still provide some good insight. For example, it’s been shown that Black Americans are twice as likely to develop the condition than other ethnicities. However, they’re not always given the care they need when they ask for it. Firstly, they may not be referred for assessment because their doctors don’t believe they need it.  Secondly, even when an assessment is given, the questions may not flag depression because some Black women describe their symptoms differently. Studies show that many women are more likely to report being constantly tired than the lingering sadness that people expect. Finally, some women worry that getting diagnosed will affect their ability to keep their children – especially if there have been issues with...