"Ethical and Psychosocial Considerations in Supporting Perinatal Mental Health: A Case Study of Chen Li" MHN304

Case Study Two

Chen Li is a 33-year-old Chinese woman who is 34 weeks pregnant with her first child. She presents to her general practitioner with a 6-week history of poor sleep, lack of appetite, decreased energy, and motivation, she has a previous history of depression. Her husband reports that she has been crying a lot and has been irritable with him which is quite out of character for her. Chen Li and her husband Sam have been living in New Zealand for two years. Sam works as an environmental consultant and travels frequently often having to be away from home for several weeks at a time. Chen Li reports she feels very lonely living in New Zealand and misses her family and friends in China. She also reports that she feels very frightened about having this baby, has thoughts about how she will cope once the baby it is born and is worried about what she will be like as a mother. Chen Li stated she feels she is a terrible wife to Sam. She reports that she has felt overwhelmed by these thoughts and has considered that her family may be better off without her.