Did you or someone you know experience high anxiety during pregnancy or in the following year after delivery?  Did you only fill out a questionnaire mostly focusing on your depression symptoms following delivery and NEVER during pregnancy?  I never took a questionnaire during either of my sons' pregnancies and currently, the one I am taking during my baby's pediatric visits is insufficient. 

Among my close contacts, numerous women have experienced heightened anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum (perinatal anxiety). Their stories are not unique; they resonate with countless others in Akron, OH. These women were not depressed but confronted higher-than-normal anxiety, so they were not flagged for post-partum anxiety or perinatal anxiety. 

We seek more thorough assessments for perinatal anxiety in Akron's healthcare system, specifically Akron City Hospitals and Akron Children's Hospitals, to provide appropriate help for these women.

Perinatal anxiety is a debilitating condition, affecting nearly 15% of pregnant women and new mothers worldwide (World Health Organization), yet it remains frequently misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. Women experiencing perinatal anxiety not only grapple with the common stressors of pregnancy and parenthood but also contend with persistent, irrational fears and constant worry that can inhibit their daily life and bonding with their baby.

Screening tools currently in use, such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, are insufficient as they focus primarily on depression symptoms, often overlooking perinatal anxiety disorders. Therefore, we urge the Summa Health / Akron City Hospitals and Akron Children's Hospitals to employ more advanced screenings (such as this one) and more frequently.

This simple yet impactful change can be instrumental in helping women receive the appropriate diagnosis and treatment, relieving them of unnecessary suffering and allowing them to fully engage in their role as mothers. It's time to recognize the prevalence and severity of perinatal anxiety and implement measures to accurately identify this condition for the benefit of Akron's families. Please, sign this petition to advocate for our mothers' mental health.