How bad is maternal health in Europe, and how can we fix it?

"Worldwide about 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth develop a mental health issue, in particular depression, according to the World Health Organization. Make Mothers Matter's study of nearly 10,000 [exact number 9,600] mums in 12 European countries found that more than two-thirds of the mothers who took part in the survey said they felt mentally overloaded, while over the past year, a third reported anxiety, 20% depression and 18% burnout."

"The findings shows that mental health strain is the norm, not the exception, especially for mothers with young children, multiple children, low incomes, or single-parent households. Yet, caregiving during early childhood is one of the most powerful determinants of lifelong health and wellbeing, says Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, director of health systems at WHO/Europe. Mothers' mental health is deteriorating because they face huge challenges, too often without support and crucially: because policies haven't caught up with reality, says Ann-Katrin Orr, policy officer at Mental Health Europe. You can't pile work pressure, care responsibilities and rigid gender norms and roles on to women while reducing social supports and then be surprised when anxiety and depression rise."

Nearly 9,600 mothers across 12 European countries reported widespread mental overload and substantial rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout. Over two-thirds felt mentally overloaded; during the past year about one-third experienced anxiety, one-fifth experienced depression, and nearly one-fifth experienced burnout. Country-level variation included a third of mothers in Sweden and a quarter in Germany and the UK reporting depression, and 42% of Spanish respondents reporting anxiety. Mental health strain is especially common among mothers with young or multiple children, low incomes, or single-parent households. Caregiving during early childhood strongly influences lifelong health and wellbeing, while insufficient social supports and outdated policies exacerbate deterioration in maternal mental health.

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