M'sian hubbies chased out wives with post-natal depression

M'sian hubbies chased out wives with post-natal depression

By Tiffany Leong WenyiAbout six mothers, who suffered depression after having their babies, were chased out of their homes by husbands who could not cope with their wives tearfulness.MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong said that the husband of a 45-year-old woman from Port Dickson had become disgusted with her after she gave birth to a daughter in 1999.

Post-natal depression is a serious health matter

The woman, who was only referred to as Toh, had been coming to the bureau since 2003 appealing for help.Her situation had worsened and she was now getting treatment from Hospital Universiti Malaya, he said.She was just one of six new mothers that had complained to the bureau that they had been kicked out of their homes after giving birth because they could not get over their post-natal depression.The trauma of being chased out of their homes had triggered further mental problems, Chong said.

Datuk Michael Chong lends a helping hand to the needyIts wrong to do this. The husbands should show more patience and get them the help they need, Chong said.The six mothers are among the 78 cases received by the bureau since the beginning of 2009 of people chased out or abandoned by their families for having mental health problems.These people came from various parts of Malaysia like Penang and Johor, some even specially flew in from Sabah and Sarawak just to see me, said Chong.Without a home, some of these mentally-ill patients sheltered under bus stops and begged for food. Some turned to theft to feed themselves, Chong said.Their families cannot abandon them like that, said Chong who appealed to the families to show patience and understanding and take care ! of their own.He said those getting treatment for their mental health problems also needed the help of their families to ensure they took their medication regularly.Published Jan 21 2011