Breakdown of Post-partum Depression Cases Over Last 10 Years

NOTICE PAPER NO. 733
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 4 OCTOBER 2021

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Ms Carrie Tan
MP for Nee Soon GRC

Question No. 1845

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry has figures on post-partum depression cases tracked over the years; (b) if so, what is the observed trend regarding the rate of post-partum depression in mothers over the past 10 years generally and by socio-economic segments; (c) whether the Government has any longitudinal studies on post-partum depression and its link to mental health conditions in mother and child in later years; and (d) if not, whether it will consider conducting studies on this.

Answer

        Based on the data available, there has been a gradual decline in the annual number of cases of post-partum depression seen at our public hospitals over the last 10 years, from 421 cases in 2011 to 362 cases in 2020. Data from NUH showed that about one in five of these mothers require some financial assistance and this proportion has remained consistent. 

2.    One of the aims of the ongoing Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study is to investigate the association between maternal emotional health and the child’s health and development in later years.