In recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has gained much-needed visibility. However, perinatal mental health—emotional challenges during pregnancy or after childbirth—remains largely overlooked. Society often expects women to feel happiness and fulfillment, disregarding the profound changes and mental health struggles that can accompany motherhood.
One in five women will experience perinatal mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. These conditions can hinder a mother’s ability to care for herself and her baby, and may even disrupt the bonding process. The onset of a new condition or the worsening of a previous one, particularly in the postpartum period, can make the transition to motherhood overwhelming for many women.
Despite these alarming statistics, perinatal mental health remains underrecognized. Major journals like The Lancet have highlighted the barriers to identifying and treating these issues, noting that the stigma is particularly intense during this period when society expects mothers to be healthy, happy, and capable of caring for their babies. But who is taking care of the mothers?
The healthcare system is often ill-equipped to detect these conditions early. There is a need for early detection, better training for healthcare and social service professionals, and specialized facilities for diagnosing and treating perinatal mental health disorders. Additionally, many women do not recognize their mental health struggles, believing it’s a normal part of motherhood. Fear of being judged as ‘bad mothers’ or guilt over not feeling ‘happy’ often prevents them from seeking help.
Perinatal mental health is not a secondary issue—it is crucial to the well-being of mothers, their babies, and society. Raising awareness and ensuring public policies that support maternal mental health is a shared responsibility. As Dr. Vivette Glover states, improving the emotional health of mothers improves the health of society as a whole.
No mother should face this journey alone. We must support all mothers, particularly those experiencing mental health challenges during this critical time.
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