Women who live in the city are more likely to suffer from postnatal depression

New research has found that new mothers who live in the city are more likely to develop postnatal depression than those who live in the countryside.

According to reuters.com, the Women's College Research Institute in Toronto, Canada studied a survey from 2006 which looked at 6,126 new mothers, to see whether there was a connection between postnatal depression and where the mothers lived.

They discovered that nine per cent of new mothers living in the city developed postnatal depression, whereas six per cent resided in the countryside, reports dailymail.co.uk.

Those living in suburban areas placed somewhere in the middle, as five to seven per cent reported depression symptoms.

The researchers think the reason behind this greater risk is that mothers in the city don't get as much support as mothers who live in the country, despite the population in cities being much higher. Women who are suffering from depression can seek support from a professional, such as through a counselling course, to help them work around their issues.

Dr Simone Vigod, from the Women's College Hospital in Toronto, said: "Living in an urban area is a marker of more stress, less support and a potentially higher risk of postpartum depression for women. Our study suggests we need to better target our supports and services towards women based on their geographic location to improve their outcomes and reduce their risk of postpartum depression."