Recently, Netflix Canada added the documentary When the Bough Breaks to its repertoire. This documentary examines and explains perinatal mood disorders, such as post-partum depression, anxiety, and psychosis through interviews with professionals, as well as real women who have lived through it (and their partners).
DISCLAIMER
I will say right off the bat, as someone who has experienced post-partum depression and anxiety and is very open about that experience, that this film can be triggering for those who have also had mental health issues. I personally found viewing it to be difficult, but also to be extremely validating. There were many moments or statements that I identified with deeply and could not hold back the tears.
So, with that in mind, if you have experienced or are currently experiencing post-partum mental health issues, please use caution when you start watching this. This is an extremely difficult film to watch, and does broach the topic of infant death as a result of post-partum psychosis as well as suicide due to perinatal mental health disorders. If you think you may need a spotter or someone to sit with you while watching this film, please do so. If you feel you need to talk to someone after viewing this film, please do so.
Now, to the review.
When the Bough Breaks begins with an explanation of what post-partum depression, anxiety, and psychosis each look like. There are real stories from women who have lived through it, an explanation of the documentary's purpose from the filmmakers, and information bites from professionals who routinely treat post-partum mental health issues. These stories range from the redemptive to the tragic.
There are women who are healing from perinatal mood disorders.
There are survivors who now help others.
There are those left behind after lives are lost due to perinatal mental health disorders.
The treatments for post-partum depression, anxiety, and psychosis all vary, and the film approaches many of them. When the Bough Breaks discusses both the conventional, experimental, pharmaceutical, and non-pharmaceutical treatments. An integral part of the approach to perinatal mental health is the need for support and therapy, and this is heavily featured in the film. The need for universal screening is discussed. Here in Alberta, we do have screening as a standard part of post-partum care, but this is not the case all over North America. This film focuses primarily on the experience of women in the United States of America, but there are still relevant issues here in Canada. Even with advances, there is still more that can be done to help women suffering from perinatal mood disorders.
Another topic approached is the stigma and misinformation that still exists in this world, despite advances in the visibility and the openness that is becoming more common with mental health. This documentary discusses why we should keep on talking about perinatal mental health. Stigma stops many from seeking treatment, even in this modern era.
If you have an interest in what perinatal mental health disorders are like for those who experience it, would like to learn how to help those who go through it, would like more information, or have experienced it in the past and wish to hear the stories of other women who have gone through similar experiences, this is a good film to start off with.
It was a difficult watch for me, but I am glad I did watch it. It was a good reminder that we are not alone in this journey through perinatal mood disorders, and that other women and men are fighting as well.
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