Hayden Panettiere Undergoing Treatment For Postpartum Depression

Actress Hayden Panettiere has revealed she is undergoing treatment for postpartum depression after welcoming daughter Kaya Evodokia 10-months-ago with partner Wladimir Klitschko.

The 26-year-old Nashville star is "voluntarily seeking professional help at a treatment centre as she is currently battling postpartum depression," her rep confirmed.

"She asks that the media respect her privacy during this time."

Panettiere has been open about her struggle since welcoming her first child last December, admitting last month on Live! with Kelly and Michael that she relates to her character Juliette Barnes’ struggles with PPD.

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"It’s something a lot of women experience. When [you’re told] about postpartum depression you think it’s ‘I feel negative feelings towards my child, I want to injure or hurt my child’ — I’ve never, ever had those feelings. Some women do. But you don’t realise how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on. It’s something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they’re not alone, and that it does heal."

More than 1 in 7 new mums are diagnosed with postnatal depression every year in Australia. For many of them – some 40 per cent according to data from the Post and Antenatal Depression Association (PANDA) – symptoms of depression first manifest themselves during pregnancy.

For some mothers, postnatal depression becomes postpartum psychosis: a rare but severe mental health condition that affects between one and two mothers out of every 1,000 in Australia and creates a sudden onset of psychotic symptoms immediately after childbirth.

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“Depression and anxiety are actually the most common mental health issues during pregnancy and after birth,” PANDA’s communications manager Lisa Knott says. Postnatal depression presents itself within 12 months of the birth of a baby, most often within the first few months of a birth or while still pregnant. Symptoms can manifest slowly or suddenly and can be both severe and lingering.

“The combination and severity of symptoms differs and many parents go to great lengths to hide their real feeling because of guilt or shame,” Knott says.

According to PANDA, some common symptoms include: feeling sad or anxious, irritability, sleep problems unrelated to baby’s sleep, feeling guilty, worthless or numb, fear of being alone, withdrawing socially and fear of your baby.

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“Symptoms that last for more than two weeks and prevent new parents from functioning well indicate it’s time to get help,” Knott says.

The important thing, PANDA counsels, is to give support. If someone you know shows distress about parenthood: talk to them and ask them how they are feeling. If symptoms persist over a period of more than two weeks, act as soon as possible and get help for the new parent.

If you are concerned about yourself or about someone you know, contact PANDA’s National Perinatal Depression Helpline 1300 726 306, see your GP or Maternal Health Nurse.