May is Maternal Mental Health Month. While pregnancy and childbirth are often joyful events, they can also bring emotional and psychological challenges. Maternal mental health includes a range of conditions like postpartum depression, anxiety, and mood disorders that can affect mothers before, during, or after childbirth.
At Case Hospital, we prioritize holistic care for expectant and new mothers. We screen for maternal mental health issues during antenatal visits and offer counseling and psychiatric referrals when needed. It’s important for family members to understand the signs—persistent sadness, irritability, difficulty bonding with the baby, or overwhelming anxiety—and support mothers in seeking help.
What can you do? Talk to your healthcare provider about any emotional changes. Join support groups or antenatal classes. Prioritize rest, balanced nutrition, and emotional support from loved ones. Know that you are not alone, and it’s okay to ask for help.
We invite all expectant and new mothers to book a maternal mental health screening this month. Let’s raise awareness, remove stigma, and support each other. Your mental well-being matters just as much as your physical health.