Each first Wednesday in May He commemorated world Maternal Health daywith the purpose of Sensitize, raise awareness and promote access to treatment for mental disorders that can arise during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
Maternal mental health not only concerns the mother, but also the father, the baby and the family environment. During the perinatal period – which covers pregnancy and the first year after childbirth – women cross a stage of high emotional vulnerability. The physical, hormonal and social changes that accompany motherhood can trigger various mental health problems that, If not only, they affect the woman, but to the physical, cognitive and emotional development of the baby.
Perinatal mental disorders, such as postpartum depression, anxiety, compulsive obsessive disorder, bipolar disorder or even postpartum psychosisThey usually go unnoticed. It is estimated that 1 in 5 women in the world experience some kind of mood or anxiety disorder During this period, and 7 out of 10 tend to hide or minimize their symptoms for fear of judgment or stigma.
The consequences transcend the personal. These disorders can hinder the mother’s ability to maintain social relationships, conserve her employment or provide adequate care to her son or daughter. In addition, they represent an economic and social challenge for countries, generating an increase in the costs of health systems and social services.
Not only mothers are affected: About 10% of parents also develop depressive symptoms in the postpartum period. This data highlights the importance of a family and comprehensive approach to address mental health in the perinatal stage.
Painful situations such as spontaneous abortion, a fetal death, premature birth or hospitalization of the newborn in an intensive care unit can also trigger or aggravate psychological disorders. Hence the urgency of offering emotional support in all possible scenarios.
In 2025, the campaign takes place under the motto “We are stronger together”highlighting The importance of accompaniment between women and the creation of support networks. Although each maternity experience is unique, sharing experiences and removing the hand can be a powerful tool to heal.
The organizers of the event remember that No woman is exempt. Perinatal mental health difficulties can affect women of all ages, cultures, income levels and races, at any time of pregnancy or within the first postpartum. The good news is that there are effective treatments, endorsed by scientific evidence, which can make a big difference.
Despite progress, many women still do not receive adequate attention, and stigma continues to be an important obstacle. That’s why, The campaign emphasizes that without mental health, there is no healthand call family, friendships and health professionals to listen with empathy, to ask with genuine interest and to encourage mothers to seek help.
Psychology meets a key role in maternal mental health. Psychological interventions have proven to be effective in developing tools that allow managing stress, anxiety and preventing disorders such as depression or postpartum posttraumatic stress. Promoting maternal mental health should not be limited to a single day a year: it is a daily and collective task.
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