According to the NCT, nearly half of women with postnatal depression are not identified as having the condition, despite being asked a carefully-worded set of questions by health professionals at the six-week check. I think I know why this is. Below are a few of the depression identification questions. Imagine me, sitting there, holding the baby, wondering what the right answers are. Wondering what I want her to think about me.

“Do you have trouble sleeping at night?”

“Are you joking?” I reply. She just looks at me. I close my mouth and decide to edit my responses.

“Do you feel tired all the time?” Well, duh, I don’t say. The baby wakes up and starts crying.

“Do you socialise less than before?” Um…

“Do you have trouble with motivation?”

To all of the above: Yes, replies the mother of a newborn. Yes, replies the woman with depression. And here’s the best question: “Have you recently experienced a traumatic event?” I look down at the baby, shift in my seat, feel the stitches pulling. Does she mean the birth? Can I mention that, or are we taking that for granted? Can I say, yes, of course I bloody have, look, this human just came out of me?

