Hospital representatives in a discussion about maternal mental health: knowledge and stability are important

On Wednesday, representatives of the Jonava Hospital took part in a specialist meeting held in the district municipality, dedicated to the prevention of postpartum depression in women. This meeting was organized in Jonava by the Presidency of the Republic of Lithuania, Jonava district municipality and the project “Mama we care” to commemorate the World Mother’s Mental Health Day.

At the meeting, representatives of Jonava district health institutions together with various specialists from organizations and institutions discussed how to recognize postpartum depression and improve the mental health of mothers.

Statistics show that one out of every 7 new-born mothers faces not only immeasurable joy, but also anxiety, low mood, and depression.

Gediminas Ramanauskas, director of the Jonava hospital, emphasized in the discussion that the stability of the medical institution and the knowledge that the woman will receive all the necessary services in a place close to her home are especially important for the emotional health of mothers.

“Today, we are not only a baby-friendly hospital, but also a mother-friendly hospital. Women who give birth with us know all the specialists very well, they visit them during pregnancy, so they feel confident because they know very well that when the time comes to give birth, they will be taken care of.

Therefore, we do not support the reform of health facilities and the closing of maternity wards in regional hospitals, as planned by the Ministry of Health. We are sure that these plans will only increase women’s anxiety and will certainly not improve overall mental health,” said the head of the hospital.

The patient of Jonava aims to preserve all the services provided here today, as well as the maternity-midwifery department, where last year a fifteen-year birth record was achieved – 418 children were born during the year.

This year, the obstetrics department of the hospital continues to work at full speed: the Jonava hospital has become the birth center of central Lithuania, because after the decision to abandon obstetric services in the surrounding districts, women from Kėdainiai, Ukmergė, Raseiniai, Vievios, Trakai and even Vilnius and Kaunas come to give birth in Jonava.

Public hospital Jonavas info.