All over the world, many new and expectant mothers experience some kind of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, and it’s not uncommon for these to be undiagnosed which can then lead to poor long-term effects for mothers, children, fathers and the wider family. 

Maternal Mental Health Month aims to bring awareness to the public and professionals alike, advocate for women and families affected by it and help them to access appropriate treatment to enable them to recover. Perinatal mental illness affects more than 1 in 10 women in the UK each year, some of these illnesses include: 

  • Anxiety 
  • Antenatal depression 
  • Postnatal depression 
  • Postpartum psychosis 
  • Perinatal obsessive compulsive disorder 
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 

Each year there is a theme to support the campaign, this year it’s ‘The Power of Connection’. Being pregnant and having a baby during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge for many, especially with some services changing the way they deliver care to women and families. Throughout this challenging time many women have had such varying experiences of childbirth and their journey into motherhood and it’s important to reflect and raise awareness of how to find support for both women and the whole family during the antenatal and postnatal period. 

Here at Smart Cells we are proud to be supporting the Maternal Mental Health Awareness campaign and we would like to advocate for all pregnant women and mother’s alike to reach out and get support for their mental health when and if they need to. 

If you would like to learn more about the Maternal Mental Health Awareness campaign, these websites have a great source of information: 

 

 

References: 

Health Watch | https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/event/2021-05-03/maternal-mental-health-matters-awareness-week 

Maternal Mental Health Alliance | https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/news/maternal-mental-health-awareness-week-2022/