In a bizarre bid for relevancy  - or perhaps just notoriety - Latham deduced that because one female journalist had this week light-heartedly thanked antidepressants and caffeine for getting her through a medical degree while raising two small children, that ergo, all 'inner-city feminists' are selfish harridans who despise their offspring. (Literally, the article was titled Why left feminists don't like kids.)

This is ridiculous as saying that all aspiring political leaders hate taxi drivers because one once proved it by breaking a driver's arm. The nonsensical nature of his argument is so ridiculous and baiting it doesn't deserve a reply, suffice to say that the author he paints as some sort of baby-eating feminist witch actually works in a Children's Hospital.

Far more damaging is Latham's assertion that using antidepressants is "cowardly", during Post Natal Depression Awareness Week at that.

"Popping pills [is] an easy way out, instead of facing up to the responsibilities of adulthood" he writes.

Latham also fears for the children of such terrible mothers.

"Why do people like this have children in the first place? How will the children feel when they grow up and learn that they pushed their mother onto anti-depressants?"

Perhaps another way to think about this question is wondering how a child would feel growing up without a mother at all – given that suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in the 12 months after birth.

I thought we had come a long way in discussing postnatal depression and anxiety. High-profile women like Brooke Shields, Jessica Rowe and Gwyneth Paltrow of spoken of their struggles and the organisations like Beyond Blue have launched dedicated websites and apps to help women navigate their mental health during pregnancy and early motherhood.

Most decent care providers now screen women during pregnancy for markers of low mood or anxiety, and provide follow up support after the birth.

Despite all the awareness we now have about depression and anxiety, there is still a massive stigma around the topic which prevents many women (and men) from seeking help until they in a really acute state of illness.

The myth that parenthood is supposed to be all joy and roses and that if you don't enjoy every second of it you are a failure is a strong one to fight against, but one that due to platforms such as Essential Baby is slowly being eroded.

Parenthood is not all joy and roses, but you don't need to be depressed to know that.

If you are depressed, you'll probably find parenting extra-hard as depression usually makes you tired, tearful and irritable. Symptoms also include low self-esteem, lack of confidence and feelings of inadequacy and guilt.

The exact causes of depression are still not known, but it is incredibly common. At least one in 10 Australian women will suffer PND or anxiety. The process of pregnancy and birth is a tumultuous time for the body and the brain. New hormones and released and withdrawn. The birth experience is sometimes brutal. The household budget tightens. Relationships change. Babies cry, sometimes all night, and don't come with a manual.

Mark Latham said that women of Sydney's western suburbs didn't have neuroses, that they considered parenting a privilege. Unfortunately data does not bear his claims out. PND can affect anyone, but those more at risk are those from lower-income and less educated backgrounds. Sadly, these women also have less access to mental health services and are less likely to report their symptoms of depression.

Baseless, flippant remarks like those made by Latham today make it even harder for new parents to seek support for their mental health problems, and are discriminatory towards those who use medication, said Beyond Blue in a statement today.

Re: Mark Latham's piece in the @FinancialReview today, making flippant comments about depression and assumptions about people's need for medication is discriminatory. We oppose any form of discrimination against people experiencing psychological distress or more serious mental health problems. We encourage anyone who is having a tough time coping with their daily activities to take action to get help and support. Any treatment a person chooses to have to deal with anxiety or depression is a matter for that person, their family and the treating health professional.

Parents seek mental health support and are sometimes guided to medication not because they hate their children, but because they love them and want the best for them. As I know from bitter experience, being a depressed mum is no joy at all.

Love has nothing to do with mental illness. But love may drive a mother to do something about it.

Lifeline 13 11 14

Beyondblue 1300 224 636

Essential Baby