Maternal Mental Health

Written by Sara Wright, M.Ed, LPCA

May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness month. The goal of bringing awareness to maternal mental health is to increase resources for women who struggle with pregnancy and infant loss, infertility, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. These experiences are faced by women that you know and love, or maybe you are one of these women. 

Pregnancy and infant loss affects 1 in 4 women. 

Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples. 

PMADs affect 1 in 7 women, 1 in 3 women of color, and 1 in 10 men. 

Perinatal issues occur during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Mood and anxiety disorders include diagnoses such as bipolar, depression, anxiety, panic, OCD, and PTSD.

When discussing postpartum issues, most people have heard about Postpartum Depression, and it’s often just referred to as “postpartum.” The one symptom that I’ve heard discussed is feeling detached or a lack of bonding with the baby. However, postpartum depression can also present as feelings of rage, hopelessness, and worthlessness. Postpartum Anxiety and OCD can involve intrusive thoughts, panic attacks. 

Of the 600,000+ people who will experience a Perinatal Mood or Anxiety Disorder this year, more than 75% of of them will not seek treatment. You or someone you love may be struggling. Please know that you are not alone. It is not your fault. There are resources available to you. 

Visit postpartum.net for online support groups, a warmline, and many more resources. 

You are not alone. 

It is not your fault.

There is help available.