KUCHING: Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, the Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM), has urged families to be attentive to changes in the behavior of mothers or wives, which may indicate symptoms of baby blues syndrome.
Following a tragic incident where a woman allegedly slaughtered her baby boy at home on March 16, she stressed the importance of recognising sudden behavioral changes in mothers, which could signal the onset of the syndrome.
“We must not overlook signs that a mother may be struggling. Some individuals may not recognise these symptoms, so it is crucial to be attentive, especially within couples,” she told the media at the Childcare Centre Fee Subsidy presentation ceremony and Child Safety in Vehicles Campaign 2024 held at the Borneo Cultures Museum here on Monday (March 18).
Nancy pointed out that baby blues syndrome is not uncommon and can lead to severe consequences, including harm to oneself or the child.
She mentioned that in the recent case, “the mother had been diagnosed with depression, and she cannot be left alone, this affects women, especially during childbirth, and it can happen for years.”
She added: “Therefore, the issue of mothers affected by this syndrome is not a new thing, we have heard of it for a long time like in the villages, but in the past, mothers were always taken care of by their family members.”
Nancy assured that her ministry is committed to implementing interventions to address baby blues syndrome.
“We are deeply concerned about such incidents and are working tirelessly to prevent their recurrence.
However, addressing this issue requires collaboration from various sectors, including the private sector.
“Maybe they can also help organise a campaign like today’s campaign (Children in Vehicles Safety Campaign).”
The tragic incident on March 16, as revealed by Johor police chief CP M Kumar, involved a woman allegedly slaughtering her baby boy at home at around 1.30pm.
The suspect, 32, was arrested under Section 302 of the Penal Code, with investigations ongoing. Police also seized a knife at the scene, believed to have been used in the deed.
Initial investigation found that she sent a photo of her baby with blood on his neck through WhatsApp to her husband.
