Today is World Maternal Mental Health Day, which purpose is to draw attention to the mental health concerns for mothers and families. The changes that pregnancy and having children brings in life makes women more vulnerable to mental illness.

I was first diagnosed with depression not long after my first child’s birth.  I was later diagnosed with type 2 bipolar disorder after the birth of my second child.

Worldwide, as many as 1 in 5 women experience some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. These disorders include postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder, postpartum bipolar, and postpartum psychosis.  Symptoms can appear at any time during pregnancy and the first 12 months after childbirth.

Health professionals and friends and relatives of new moms need to ask the mom how she really is feeling and encourage her to seek help if she is struggling.

To learn more about this movement visit https://wmmhday.postpartum.net/