Call on the UN to recognize World Maternal Mental Health Day

Letter to the World Health Organisation and the World Health Assembly.

This year we will commemorate World Maternal Mental Health Day for the third time and we are inviting you to join us!

Since 2016, over 90 international organisations and groups of individuals have been coming together on the first Wednesday of May to raise awareness of maternal mental health issues.

As many as 1 in 5 new mothers experience some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder in many countries. These illnesses frequently go unnoticed and untreated, often with tragic and long-term consequences to mothers, children, and fathers alike. Women of every culture, age, income level, and race can develop perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Symptoms can appear any time during pregnancy and the first 12 months after childbirth.

Together we advocate for access to mental health services for all perinatal women. We encourage women to speak out and seek treatment. By increasing awareness, we aim to unmask the stigma surrounding maternal mental health issues that prevent women from accessing mental health services during or after pregnancy.
Join us by permanently recognizing World Maternal Mental Health Day on the official UN calendar on every first Wednesday of May - a date that is close to Mother’s Day and Mental Health Week in many countries.

Sincerely,

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