Studies on abuse, neglect, maltreatment and abandon of the child have consistently highlighted postnatal depression, current or past, as a major risk factor in all such psychopathologies. However, even in more extreme instances, neonaticide or filicide, the same risk factors appear and are associated with postnatal depression and puerperal psychosis. Thus the postnatal depression experienced by many new mothers is an emblematic aspect of the difficulties, the problems and the personal and family psychological distress that can emerge after the birth of a child. Consequently, the ability to identify women with postnatal depression, or at risk of this pathology, as early as possible can and must become a priority in public health and child-care policies in order to prevent and or treat it in time and to meet specific socio-health objectives.