- Hayden Panettiere released her memoir 'This Is Me' in May, where she discusses her struggles with drugs and alcohol.
- In a 2015 interview on 'Live With Kelly and Michael,' Panettiere advocated for more discussion about postpartum depression.
- Panettiere emphasized that many people dismiss postpartum depression as not real, stating it is uncontrollable and painful.
- After giving birth to her daughter, Kaya, Panettiere struggled to bond with her and experienced an emotional blackout.
- Panettiere later realized that her emotional blackout was a mental health crisis, partly due to her limited understanding of postpartum depression.
- According to the CDC, at least one in eight women who experience live births report symptoms of postpartum depression.
Hayden Panettiere has emerged as a significant advocate for mental health awareness, particularly regarding postpartum depression. In her memoir, This Is Me, she candidly discusses her struggles following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in December 2014. Despite physical recovery, Panettiere faced an emotional crisis, describing it as 'a total blackout of emotion, like my soul was dead.'1246
During a 2015 interview on 'Live With Kelly and Michael,' she emphasized the importance of discussing postpartum depression, stating, 'There’s a lot of people out there who think that it’s not real.' She highlighted the misconceptions surrounding the condition, which affects at least one in eight women who experience live births, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Women’s Association.3
Panettiere's journey illustrates the challenges many women face in recognizing and addressing their mental health issues. She noted that it took her months to understand that her emotional state was a mental health crisis, partly due to her limited knowledge of postpartum depression. Her advocacy aims to provide support and raise awareness for those struggling with similar experiences, emphasizing that postpartum depression is real, painful, and requires understanding and support.5
“Panettiere's memoir, released in May, reveals her long battle with drugs and alcohol, and her emotional struggles after becoming a mother. She emphasized the importance of support for women facing postpartum depression, noting that one in eight women report symptoms, according to the CDC and the American Medical Women’s Association.”
