Kiambu Women Rep Anne Gathecha has called on relevant health officers to offer counselling to young mothers to cushion them from Postpartum Depression (PPD).
The disorder affects mothers after childbirth.
Speaking to more than 100 young mothers at Makongeni Health Centre in Thika on Monday after the mothers underwent a one-week training of good motherhood dubbed 'Malezi Bora Week', Gathecha noted that PPD cases were on the rise due to lack of proper counselling.
"I know at times you hate yourselves as young mothers because you believe you have erred for conceiving at a tender age," said Gathecha.
"Giving birth is not an easy task and is quite stressing and, therefore, young mothers need all the assistance we can afford them to ensure they don't sink into Postpartum Depression," she added.
Gathecha said that there was also a need to prepare young women mentally on what awaits them ahead.
"Currently, there is no support system to guide these young mothers in countering the most challenging times of their motherhood which is immediately after birth. We need to have this system in place because the lack of it can be catastrophic as we witnessed in Nairobi last week when a mother killed her new-born twins," Gathecha advised.
Kiambu County Director of Preventive Health Beatrice Mutile who had accompanied Gathecha, called on pregnant women to seek both prenatal and postnatal care to ensure they are on the right track.
"Both prenatal and postnatal care are essential in ensuring that the mother's mental health is well taken care of. Forming social support groups to share personal experiences among young mothers is equally important," Mutile said.