World Mental Health Day 2025- Mental Health Must is at the Heart of Maternal & Newborn Care

By Dr. Pavitra, Psychiatrist

Every year, World Health Day reminds us to pause and reflect — what does "health" truly mean? In 2025, the World Health Organization’s theme "My Health, My Right" beautifully captures a powerful truth: Every individual — regardless of gender, age, or background — has the right to physical and mental wellbeing.

As a psychiatrist, I want to talk about a space where this right often gets overlooked — the mental health of mothers

during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Motherhood: A Time of Joy... and Vulnerability

We often celebrate pregnancy and new motherhood as magical, joyful phases — and yes, they can be. But let’s not forget that for many women, this phase also brings anxiety, emotional upheavals, exhaustion, and even loneliness.

Research tells us that about 1 in 5 women may experience mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, or postpartum mood disorders during this period. And yet — many suffer in silence, feeling guilt or shame for not feeling "happy enough."

Why Maternal Mental Health is Everyone’s Business

This isn’t just about the mother alone.

→ A mother’s mental health has direct implications for her baby’s growth and development — even starting in the womb!→ High stress levels in pregnancy have been linked to preterm delivery, low birth weight, and later emotional and behavioral problems in children.→ Postpartum depression can affect mother-infant bonding, breastfeeding, and even long-term emotional security of the child.

In short — taking care of a mother’s mind is taking care of her baby’s future.

Breaking Barriers: Why Don’t Women Seek Help?

Despite the data, mental health care is often missing from routine antenatal and postnatal care.

Many women hesitate to talk about emotional struggles because of:

• Fear of being judged

• Feeling like a "bad mother"

• Lack of awareness that help is available

• Cultural stigma around mental health

As healthcare providers, families, and as a society — we need to create safer spaces for women to speak up.

What Can We Do? Practical Steps

→ Routine mental health screening should be part of every pregnancy check-up.→ Partners, families, and friends should stay alert for signs of emotional distress.→ Access to mental health support — including counselling and therapy — must be made easy and stigma-free.→ And most importantly — we must change the narrative around motherhood to be more compassionate and realistic.

Final Thoughts

This World Health Day, let’s remember — mental health is health.

Every woman deserves the right to feel heard, supported, and cared for — not just during pregnancy, but through every phase of her life.

Healthy mothers nurture healthy generations. And it all begins with recognising that their mental health matters too.

References:

1. World Health Organization. (2025). World Health Day 2025 Theme: My Health, My Right. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2025

2. Stein, A., Pearson, R.M., Goodman, S.H., et al. (2014). Effects of perinatal mental disorders on the fetus and child. The Lancet, 384(9956), 1800-1819.

3. Woody, C.A., Ferrari, A.J., Siskind, D.J., et al. (2017). A systematic review and meta-regression of the prevalence and incidence of perinatal depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 219, 86-92.