{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: "Saying 'I'm not okay' is extremely risky": Postpartum mental health, delayed help-seeking, and fears of the child welfare system among queer parents.
{Author}: Goldberg AE;Frost RL;
{Journal}: Fam Process
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jun 23
{Factor}: 4.319
{DOI}: 10.1111/famp.13032
{Abstract}: Parent mental health challenges in the postpartum and early parenthood have profound implications for parent, child, and family well-being. Little research has focused on postpartum mental health challenges and barriers to help-seeking among queer birthing people, including members of this community who may be particularly vulnerable to mental health difficulties, such as queer cis women partnered with men, trans/nonbinary parents, and queer parents who are young, low-income, and/or of color. This mixed-methods study of queer parents (n = 99), all of whom were assigned female at birth (AFAB) and gave birth to a child within the past several years, explores parents' postpartum mental health difficulties and perceived barriers to seeking help. Using a structural stigma framework, this study found that participants reported high rates of postpartum mental health difficulties (89%) and reported various barriers to seeking support including fears of discrimination and being deemed "unfit" by providers, which might lead to child welfare system involvement. Young parents and low-income parents were particularly fearful of child welfare system contact and potential child removal. Factors that encouraged help-seeking (e.g., desire to be a good parent; partner pressure to seek help) and implications for family practitioners are discussed.