Today is World Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day. In seeing all the vulnerable and beautiful posts from mothers these past two days as part of The Blue Dot Project #MMHWeek2020 campaign, one thing has been abundantly clear: We deserve better.
Maternal mental health disorders are the #1 complication of childbirth. We deserve care that recognizes the whole of our health and not just our physical bodies. We deserve to be cared for after the baby is born, too, a time when we are often forgotten. This is especially important for women of color who are at a much higher risk of death due to pregnancy and postpartum-related conditions.
1 in 5 women will experience a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) during pregnancy and/or postpartum. We deserve to be believed, without judgment or stigma, when we have the courage to share our mental health struggles. We deserve mental health care that meets us where we are.
A recent study found that, of their group, 100% of mothers experienced intrusive thoughts at 4 weeks postpartum. We deserve the opportunity to talk about this experience without shame or fear of being labeled a “bad mother.”
We. Deserve. Better. Moms deserve better. Parents deserve better. Families deserve better. For far too long mothers have suffered, struggled, even died because of the failures of our society and our healthcare system. We must do better.
If you're struggling, please take a look at our resources page. You are not alone. Help is out there if you need it.