A psychiatrist with over two decades of experience, Shulamit Glaubach, MD, treats children, adolescent, and adult patients through her private practice in San Francisco. Over the course of her career, Shulamit Glaubach, MD, has helped patients dealing with a variety of issues, including postpartum depression (PPD), a condition that can negatively impact a child’s development.

In recent years, screening for PPD has become a routine part of caring for new mothers. With the help of articles in newspapers and parenting magazines, the public’s awareness of the issue also has increased. Despite the fact that it has become an open subject, however, many people are still unaware that postpartum depression can extend to the entire family.

In addition to affecting up to 25 percent of new mothers, PPD shows up in up to 14 percent of new dads. PPD can lead to longstanding issues for children. While young children’s malleable brains help them learn complex procedures, it also makes them very susceptible to the negative effects of the anxiety, stress, and frustration found within depressed households, especially those in which two parents are affected.

Studies have shown that early exposure to PPD and other forms of depression can put children at a greater risk of developing emotional, behavioral, and intellectual problems. These problems can affect their chances at long-term success and lead to lower IQ levels as well as issues such as poverty, drug use, and alcoholism. Due to the lasting effects that PPD can have on children, it’s important that health care providers continue to address the issue and provide the appropriate interventions for affected families.