WAWA—Research has shown that as many as one in five women have a mental health problem during pregnancy. In many countries, for many women, this problem persists during the first year, following the birth of their child.
World Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day was held May 4, 2022, and Algoma Public Health made that day a day to highlight the importance of a mother’s mental health. According to Algoma Public Health “Over 75 per cent of women do not get diagnosed and do no received adequate treatment and support. Not receiving adequate treatment has important consequences for the mother, the baby, the family and society in general.”
One’s mental health affects one’s physical and emotional health, and for expectant mothers this can be even more challenging. A mother’s mental health matters. It affects her physical, and emotional health, and that of her child.
By visiting World Maternal Mental Health Day website, information will show that no one is immune to suffering from mental health problems. According to that site, “Women of every culture, age, income level and race can develop perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Symptoms can appear anytime during pregnancy and the first 12 months after childbirth.”
Algoma Public Health, wants to raise awareness, and educate the public so that they can be more aware of the importance of knowing that this problem exists. Mental illness affects not only the woman, but her child and her entire family. Increasing awareness will create social change so that quality of care will improve and the stigma of maternal mental illness will no longer exist.