When the bough breaks: documentary about postpartum depression

When the Bough Breaksis a documentary released in 2017 which explores postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. It can be accessed for free on “Tubi” (try this link)

https://tubitv.com/movies/473902/when-the-bough-breaks 

(download the Tubi app), or purchased through YouTube and Google Play.

Please note: The written portion of this activity is not a group assignment. Students are expected to complete their own notes and submit individual/original work.

Instructions: Watch the documentary. Create a Word document which includes a summary of the film, as well as your thoughts, reactions, and feelings about the documentary (recommended length: 2-3 pages). Incorporate the following specific topics into your summary: 

· Epidemiology: Prevalence of mood or anxiety disorders; percentage of women with “baby blues” that will go on to develop some type of depression/anxiety after giving birth; percentage of women that will develop postpartum depression with obsessive-compulsive behaviors or thoughts; number of women that will have postpartum psychosis

· Defining terms: Difference between “baby blues” and postpartum depression (PPD); things a woman might feel if she were suffering from PPD; risk factors for PPD; difference between postpartum psychosis and other types of postpartum depression with anxiety or obsessive compulsive features 

· Mothers in the film: Comment on some of the feelings the mothers in the film had about their illness; their feelings about breastfeeding and coming home from the hospital

· To prosecute or not: Consider the women in the film who were prosecuted for infanticide. What is the United Kingdom’s Infanticide Act of 1938.? What is your opinion about this?

· Impact: What effect did the documentary have on you? Was there anything in particular that struck you? Did any one person’s story impact you in a special way? Share your thoughts.

Website Review

Visit the Postpartum Support International (PSI) website: https://www.postpartum.net/Explore the website for a few minutes. 

o  Click on the “About” tab to view the PSI Mission and Vision. Copy and paste it into your document.

o  Click on the “Learn More” tab on the top. Choose one topic and summarize the information presented.

o  Click on the “Resources” tab. Review the “PSI Educational Brochure”. Provide an evaluation of the brochure. Is this something that you would provide to parents? Why or why not?