For every mum who felt alone, their voice deserves to be heard
For many parents, mental health support remains a missing part of the maternity care journey. This leaves some mothers and their partners feeling unsupported at a crucial and vulnerable time.
A third of women (34%) report significant mental health challenges because of their maternity experience, reflecting the direct physical and emotional demands of pregnancy and birth.
The data highlights a clear gender difference, too, with a lower percentage of men (21%) reporting mental health challenges linked to the maternity experience.
With more than 1 in 4 parents (28%) reporting mental health challenges linked to pregnancy, birth, and aftercare, it is vital that healthcare professionals recognise the psychological impact maternity care can have not only on mothers, but partners too.
Calling for better mental health support
Whilst many recognise the need for mental health support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the post-natal period, parents do not always experience the standard of care they deserve.
In fact, 38% of parents (rising to 44% of mothers) do not believe that maternity services adequately support parents’ mental health.
“This research shows just how many parents are struggling with the emotional impact of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood...
...yet too many feel their mental health is still overlooked. When at least one in four mothers and birthing people experience mental health problems, it is clear that psychological wellbeing must be treated as a core part of safe, compassionate maternity services. Parents need to be listened to, supported, and taken seriously at every stage and should not be left to cope alone at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.”
NIKKI WILSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Maternal mental health alliance