In 2015 a group met to start making plans for the first-ever World Maternal Mental Health Day. They decided that the event should be held each year on the first Wednesday of May, close to Mother’s Day and Mental Health Week in many countries. The special day aims to raise awareness of maternal mental health issues so that more women will get treatment and fewer will suffer.

The key messages that the day focuses on include:

• Maternal mental health matters.

• Women, as well as their family and friends, need to know the signs of maternal mental ill-health and that they are not alone.

• People can find support for perinatal mental health problems.

Maternal mental health refers to a woman's mental well-being during pregnancy and the postpartum period. It is estimated that around 10-20% of new mothers experience some form of mental health issue during this time, such as postpartum depression or anxiety. However, many cases go undiagnosed and untreated due to the stigma surrounding mental illness and the lack of access to mental health care

On World Maternal Mental Health Day, it is important to recognize the impact that maternal mental health has on not only the mother but also the child and the family. Untreated mental health issues can lead to negative outcomes for both the mother and the child, including developmental delays, bonding difficulties, and even infant mortality.

It is also important to acknowledge that maternal mental health issues can affect any woman, regardless of age, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Therefore, it is crucial to provide accessible and culturally sensitive mental health care to all women who may need it.

As a society, we can take steps to prioritize maternal mental health by increasing funding for mental health care, reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness, and providing better access to mental health services for new and expectant mothers.

WHY DO WE NEED MMH DAY?

Helping mothers, helping babies!
In many countries, as many as 1 in 5 new mothers experience some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. These illnesses frequently go unnoticed and untreated, often with tragic and long-term consequences to both mother and child.

No one is immune!
Women of every culture, age, income level, and race can develop perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Symptoms can appear at any time during pregnancy and the first 12 months after childbirth. There are effective and well-researched treatment options available to help women recover.

Mental illness is not a crime!
Women are sometimes considered to be criminals instead of patients needing treatment, in the case of infanticide. Through building awareness, it aims to prevent these tragedies and stands for just and scientifically based care.

THERE’S NO HEALTH WITHOUT

MENTAL HEALTH!

Increasing awareness will drive social change with a goal toward improving the quality of care for women experiencing all types of PMADs, and reducing the stigma of maternal mental illness. We are encouraging mental health professionals, friends and relatives of new moms to ask her how she’s really feeling and encourage her to seek help.