When did people begin to recognize postpartum depression?

Post partum: No data regarding this issue, but closest guess would be in the 60 's or 70's when more cases were reported, mostly from england & germany.

Hippocrates: Hippocrates wrote in 700 bc about post-partum emotional difficulties in women. German obstetrician friedrich benjamin osiander published the first full description of postpartum psychosis in 1797. Postpartum depression was first seen as a disorder in 1850's. By the 1950's these women were called "neurotic, " & treated w/valium or ect. No wonder they were reluctant to speak out then!