Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first female minister, said in 2016 that she lost a baby in 2011. In the royal family, Zara Tindall, the queen’s granddaughter, said she suffered two miscarriages in 2018.
Executives at three charities that assist parents after miscarriages said Wednesday that they see significant spikes in people seeking help when a public figure comes up. Losing a child is often an isolating experience, and the attention public figures pay to the issue makes people feel less alone, they said.
“People suddenly admit they are hurt and in pain,” said Zoe Clark-Coates, executive director of the Mariposa Trust, a London-based charity.
Experts say that the more people speak up the more the taboo gets closer, but there remains a stigma that stops the discussion. Going through the experience alone or with a small group of friends and family members tends to lead to increased symptoms of depression and anxiety.
That effect was compounded during the isolation required by a coronavirus pandemic, said Clea Harmer, executive director of Sands, a London-based charity. The demand for support services has increased during the pandemic and people are less able to socialize with loved ones for camaraderie.
“It’s a really sad and devastating experience that is getting worse and more difficult,” she said.
Many parents are turning to social media either publicly or in closed Facebook groups, said Ruth Bender Atik, national director of the Miscarriage Association, which provides support services in the UK. She said Meghan was “generous” to share her experience and the resulting discussion would help many people.
“It can be very reassuring for people to hear how other people feel, regardless of their status,” she said.
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