Women face significantly higher risks of depression and psychosis in the weeks following childbirth, according to a major new analysis published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. The study, which examined data from nearly 1.8 million births in Sweden between 2003 and 2019, reveals that while mental health diagnoses tend to decrease during pregnancy, they rise sharply after delivery. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet found this pattern particularly pronounced for depression and psychosis, highlighting a critical period of vulnerability for new mothers.

The analysis shows that the risk of depression is approximately 20 percent higher during weeks five to 15 postpartum compared to the year before pregnancy. For psychosis, the risk is even more dramatic—six to seven times higher in the first five weeks after childbirth and twice as high through week 20. Unlike temporary "baby blues," postpartum psychosis is a serious condition characterized by delusions, hallucinations, mania, low mood, and confusion, though women can achieve full recovery with proper treatment.

Notably, the study also found that the risk of suicide attempts decreases after childbirth, suggesting a complex interplay of factors affecting maternal mental health. Women were less likely to be diagnosed with anxiety, stress, or substance abuse during or after pregnancy than beforehand, which researchers attribute to a combination of biological and lifestyle changes. Increased medical visits during pregnancy may also lead to earlier identification of mental health issues before they escalate.

The introduction of national guidelines for screening pregnant women for depression in Sweden in 2020 has provided opportunities for earlier detection and intervention. By comparing women who gave birth before and after the guidelines were implemented, researchers observed potential benefits of systematic screening. The findings underscore the importance of targeted mental health support during the postpartum period to address the heightened risks identified in the study.

Swedish prosecutors have charged four men aged 20 to 24 with robbery and assault in connection with three separate incidents that occurred in central Stockholm on August 27. The charges include allegations of unprovoked violent attacks with a hate crime motivation, according to court documents released by the Swedish Prosecution Authority.

The defendants are accused of robbing one individual and threatening that person's friend in Stockholm's city center, followed by what prosecutors describe as a severe assault against another person later the same night. Three of the men face additional charges for an assault that took place on the Stockholm metro system during the same evening. All victims in the three separate incidents were reported to have foreign backgrounds, though they had no connection to each other.

Prosecutor Gustav Andersson, who led the preliminary investigation, stated that surveillance footage and photographs show some of the defendants making Nazi salutes in connection with the alleged crimes. During house searches, authorities reportedly discovered materials and symbols indicating connections to right-wing extremism. The indictment specifically references the neo-Nazi and violence-promoting Aktivklubb movement as evidence of the motive behind the alleged offenses.

The Aktivklubb movement represents part of a larger international right-wing extremist network that outwardly focuses on strength training and martial arts. In Sweden, the movement gained traction in 2023 through the Aktivklubb Sverige network, which serves as an umbrella organization for local clubs. According to the Expo Foundation's 2024 annual report, five groups from Skåne to Hälsingland are part of Aktivklubb Sverige, with the number of registered activities increasing significantly last year.