Depression parents lead to their girls' depression

Some studies suggest that girls are more likely to develop mental illness and mental disorders if parents become depressed after birth. A study of more than 3,000 families in the Bristol area, UK, showed that one in 20 parents suffered from depression several weeks after the birth of their baby. The authors of the study point to a link between parents with depression and their daughters also suffering from depression at the age of 18, according to the British newspaper "The Guardian". The study shows that the risks for mental health in this case include only girls.

"The reasons why girls are more affected than young people of this age are unclear, but this can be explained by specific aspects of the father-daughter relationship," the researchers explain.

"Parents may be suffering from depression after the birth of their children, in addition to mothers," said Paul Ramshandani, from the School of Education at the University of Cambridge, who stated: " We were able to follow young people up to age 18 and interview them about depression.Children whose parents suffered depression at birth increased their risk of depression at age 18. "

Ramshandani added that researchers have also studied the impact of parental depression on children. "The parental depression seems to increase the stress in the family, which affects the children," he said. The study stresses the importance of also providing appropriate assistance to parents. "

"I did not realize that my daughter was depressed since she was separated from her mother at the age of six," says Doug, 57, of New Arab. "It started when my 18 year old daughter started university – although she never felt her sense, she was trying to pretend that she was happy and superior in her studies and even managed to integrate a prestigious university. "I thought she was like me, but after consulting with a specialist, he told me that the depression had started early after the divorce and that she was not sure. was developed over time. "He notes that he suffered depression after the birth of his wife and that his daughter's health condition may be related to what he experienced during this time. period in silence. "From my experience working with families, there is only one father who sometimes remains silent," says Mark Williams, founder of the Vakers Reinchea Out group.

Previous research by a number of academics has shown that postpartum depression among parents leads to behavioral problems and emotional problems in their children aged three and a half to seven years.