The month of May is dedicated to raising awareness about maternal mental health, which refers to a mother’s mental, social and emotional health and well-being both during and after pregnancy. This worldwide initiative was established to bring focus through social media campaigns, in country events, seminars and task forces to women struggling to find informed support and help.
The stigma associated with maternal mental health has caused this problem to become one of the leading public health challenges in the world. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 pregnant women suffer from anxiety and depression, but only 10% of those women will seek treatment. Poor mental health during pregnancy can lead to many risks for the baby including premature birth, low birth weight, feeding and sleeping challenges, and more importantly, cognitive development issues. If left untreated, the emotional pain and suffering that comes with depression and anxiety during pregnancy can continue to exist even after giving birth; and in acute cases can lead to substance use and may even lead to suicide.
Societal cues dictate that new mothers should be overjoyed and excited to be a mom, creating a dichotomous mental world, in which the new moms try to suppress the feelings of overwhelm, anxiousness, loneliness and the fog that has fallen over them, not realizing that the postpartum depression and anxiety can negatively impact their new born baby’s growth and development. New mothers or soon to be mothers need to know that they are not alone and that their struggles are shared across every culture, income level and race.
Here are some resources we love:
- “I Am One” Podcast – a podcast where real women talk about their experiences in the perinatal period (pregnancy and postpartum). Visit the website here for more information and where to find the podcast for your enjoyment: https://www.postpartum.net/news/i-am-one-podcast/
- Books – is reading more your speed than listening? Check out this list of books on a range of topics related to maternal mental health: https://www.emmawell.com/mental-health-books
- Support Groups – Virginia moms can attend virtual or in-person support groups related to postpartum support. Visit here for more information: https://postpartumva.org/support-groups/
If you are pregnant or postpartum, and you are feeling sad, depressed, anxious, worried or having trouble eating or sleeping, there is no reason why you should suffer in silence. The sooner you seek treatment, the sooner you will be able to reduce and alleviate the symptoms so that you can enter motherhood feeling confident that you have the skills and tools to take care of yourself and your new born baby. NAMI recommends the following resources for maternal mental health:
- Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Women’s Mental Health: https://womensmentalhealth.org
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: https://www.acog.org/ Patients/FAQs/Postpartum-Depression
- Find a therapist near you: https://www.psychologytoday.com
- Information about mood symptoms and medications: https://mothertobaby.org
- Maternal Mental Health Alliance: https://www.mmhla.org
References:
National Alliance for Mental Illness. (n.d.). Maternal Mental Health.
https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/treatments/mental-health-medications/ maternal-mental-health/
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Maternal mental health. https://www.who.int/teams/ mental-health-and-substance-use/promotion-prevention/maternal-mental-health
By Ellie Zadeh, M.S., Resident in Counseling
Enhance your family’s well-being with Crossroads Family Counseling Center. Experience professional therapy tailored to children, adolescents, adults, and families in northern Virginia.