ABSTRACT
Introduction
Postpartum mental health research has traditionally focused on depression, though anxiety is gaining attention. Alarmingly, nearly half of the affected women do not seek help, leaving conditions frequently unrecognised and untreated.
Aim
This study explores barriers to professional psychological help-seeking among postpartum women in Latvia with postpartum depression (PPD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), or both.
Method
Using the qualitative comparison groups design and thematic analysis, seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted, with four participants diagnosed with PPD, six with GAD, and seven with both PPD and GAD.
Results
Overarching domains of help-seeking barriers were: (1) Individual barriers (hesitation and internal rationalisations, lack of awareness and information about symptoms, stigmatisation and emotional barriers); (2) Family barriers (difficulties arranging childcare); and (3) Systemic and socioeconomic barriers (financial constraints, accessibility and systemic issues, lack of information). Specifically, women with PPD reported emotional unawareness and guilt; those with GAD feared burdening others. Comorbid cases emphasised logistical and access barriers.
Implications and Recommendations
Help-seeking behaviour in the postpartum period is influenced by individual, family, and structural factors. To improve access to psychological care, it is essential to foster maternal mental health literacy, normalise help-seeking through public discourse, and ensure health systems proactively support and inform parents.