Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

This week (Monday 5 May – Sunday 11 May) is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2025.

This campaign highlights the mental health challenges faced by women during pregnancy and the first year postpartum. This period is marked by significant emotional and psychological changes, making awareness and support vital for the well-being of mothers and their families.

Prevalence and impact

Perinatal mental health issues affect up to one in five women in the UK, encompassing conditions such as postnatal depression (PND), postnatal psychosis, anxiety, postnatal OCD and post-traumatic stress disorder. These challenges not only impact the mothers but can also have lasting effects on their children and families.

These conditions differ from the “baby blues,” which typically resolve within two weeks of birth. Postnatal depression is the most common presentation and can persist for years. Suffering mothers show symptoms such as sadness, fatigue, feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty bonding with the baby. It can affect anyone, including fathers and non-birthing partners, although women are statistically more affected. Alarmingly, suicide remains one of the leading causes of death for women in the first year after childbirth, indicating the severity of untreated maternal mental health conditions.

Despite advancements in NHS support systems, challenges persist in delivering effective maternal mental health care. Recent surveys indicate that over a third of pregnant women in England do not always receive the help they need during labour or childbirth, and nearly half report inadequate postnatal support in hospitals. However, sadly, due to ongoing stigma around speaking out about maternal mental health difficulties, 70% of sufferers will hide or underplay their symptoms.

Moving forward

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting maternal mental health. While progress has been made, continued efforts are necessary to address the existing challenges and disparities in mental health care. This includes increasing funding for mental health services, enhancing training for healthcare professionals, and fostering community support networks. It also serves as a stimulus for open conversation about maternal mental health difficulties, as stigma is often what will deter mothers from seeking the help they need.

If you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health during pregnancy or in the post-partum period, please contact your GP, midwife or health visitor.

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