When you're researching the association between substance use disorders (SUD) and postpartum depression and you find the most obvious, scientific proof that society views women as vessels for childbirth and then abandons both mother and child the second that child is born:
Of the SUD treatments developed for women, many focus on substance use during pregnancy due to risks to the unborn child and high motivation to maintain abstinence during pregnancy (Reitan, 2019; Viteri et al., 2015). Relatively little research exists on SUD treatments for mothers of young children despite the high rates of women in SUD treatment with children (~40 %) (Canfield et al., 2021) and high relapse rates following pregnancy (Gopman, 2014), with some studies suggesting up to 80% of mothers will relapse within the two years following childbirth (Forray et al., 2015)... Interventions promoting maternal mental health during their child’s first five years of life show positive health and economic benefits, while optimizing chances their children will become healthy members of society (Campbell et al., 2014; Doyle et al., 2009). (emphasis mine)
This is so astoundingly stupid and cruel on so many different freaking levels. Women (and all humans) have intrinsic value beyond their ability to produce and care for children, but from a public policy standpoint this is really, mind-numbingly dumb. Treating moms during the critical period of infant development has huge effects on children's mental health later in life. This is penny of prevention for dollars of savings down the line. Healthy and happy moms create new happy and healthy humans! And this is all so depressingly recent! How are we in the year 2025 and not realizing that it's probably beneficial if someone with a toddler isn't drunk or high on a regular basis??? And it's not that treatment is hard to find or unaffordable, it barely even exists?!?!?!
That said, every mother (and all humans) deserves to be mentally healthy and happy for themselves. Even if treatment did nothing for their children, they should have accessible, affordable (preferably free), and effective treatment. This is appalling.
(I am not mad at this article or these scientists. They are trying to draw attention to this massive problem)
