Case study for finding the appropriate agency

Scenario#10

Zahra is a 28-year old married woman with a ten-month old infant son.  She has been married to her husband, Majid, for six years and describes having a loving and supportive relationship. Zahra is currently on maternity leave and Majid is employed full-time in Finance.  The couple is originally from Iran and has been in Canada for three years; they are Permanent Residents.  They have no family members in Ontario, but Zahra’s sister lives in Chicago and Majid’s family lives in Montreal.  This is the couple’s first baby.

Zahra has been coming to your Community Health Centre since her son’s birth for newborn medical care and has been attending a mother-baby group for the past three months.  She has missed the past four group sessions and today you observe that Zahra has a flat affect and is not actively engaging with her baby or the other group members, which is different than how she has presented in the past.

In talking with her, Zahra discloses experiencing the following symptoms for the past four weeks: increased difficulty concentrating and sleeping, low energy, feelings of being a bad mother, low appetite, and while she has been caring for the baby, she is lacking feelings of attachment. Zahra is ashamed of this and has not told anyone how she is feeling.  Zahra has a history of depression, which she experienced for approximately two years when she first arrived in Canada.   She was on medication for about one year but has been off this for the past four years.  She also met with a settlement counsellor at the time and found this helpful.

Identified concern: Post-partum depression

 

What mental health agencies would you recommend for Zahra?Discuss