Hayden Panettiere Speaks Out About Her Postpartum Depression To Raise Awareness

Hayden Panettiere's character on Nashville is suffering from postpartum depression, a condition the actress revealed she can also relate to.

The 26-year-old, who welcomed her first child with fiancé Wladimir Klitschko in December 2014, bravely discussed her own experience on Live! with Kelly and Michael.

While other celebrities, including supermodel Chrissy Teigen, have spoken candidly about sensitive issues regarding pregnancy, postpartum depression is one that often comes with shame. Although a 2013 study from JAMA Psychiatry shows that one in seven women experiences postpartum depression, there are persisting misconceptions about the condition.

“There’s a lot of people out there who think that it’s not real, that it’s not true, that it's something that's made up in their mind," Panettiere said. "It’s something that’s completely uncontrollable and it’s really painful and it’s really scary and women need a lot of support.”

While she's never felt "negative feelings" towards her baby girl, Kaya, Panettiere said she's had other symptoms.

“I’ve never, ever had those feelings and some women do. But you don’t realize how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on,” she said.

Panettiere's brave choice of speaking about the issue isn't only bringing attention to postpartum depression, it's importantly also giving hope to other moms.

"It's something I think that needs to be talked about," she said. "Women need to know that they’re not alone, and that it does heal."

Watch below and please SHARE to help stop the stigma against postpartum depression!