Mental Illness Before and After Pregnancy with Dr. Kara Zivin, Who Has Been There

There has been a great deal of press coverage of the Lindsay Clancy case lately. What the world needs more of is first-hand experiences of severe mental health problems both before and after a baby is born. Dr. Kara Zivin is a researcher and professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan. While pregnant with her son 15 years ago, she experienced a profound depression that turned suicidal. The severity of her illness and the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) she ultimately received to address it has meant that memories around the new baby (now in high school and doing great) are spotty at best. Dr. Zivin’s story, detailed in her book, Persevered: A Memoir of Maternal Mental Health, points at the complexity of trying to identify, treat, and manage a mental health crisis for women in America. She also tells us how she’s been taking in the news about other maternal mental health situations.

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The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK

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