Seven out of 10 UK mothers feel overloaded, research reveals

"Seven out of 10 mothers in the UK feel overloaded and almost half have a mental health issue such as anxiety or depression, new research has revealed. The survey of mothers' experiences in 12 European countries also found that most of those in Britain still do the majority of household tasks and caregiving work alone, and that the UK was among the worst for motherhood disadvantaging a woman's career."

"The grim picture that emerged from the report, by the pan-European campaign group Make Mothers Matter, prompted calls for GPs and NHS maternity and health visiting services to routinely ask mothers about their mental wellbeing and provide much more help to those who need it. Make Mothers Matter surveyed 800 mothers in each of 12 European countries about the psychological impact of giving birth and dealing with the pressures of motherhood."

"It found that: 71% of UK mothers feel overloaded 4% more than the 67% European average 47% of UK mothers suffer from mental health issues, including burnout, compared with 50% in Europe as a whole 31% of UK respondents felt motherhood had a negative effect on their career, higher than the 27% average, with Ireland the highest on 36% However, it also found some measures by which mothers in the UK find it easier to balance work and caring."

Make Mothers Matter surveyed 800 mothers in each of 12 European countries about the psychological impact of giving birth and pressures of motherhood. Seventy-one percent of UK mothers feel overloaded, four percentage points higher than the 67% European average. Forty-seven percent of UK mothers report mental health issues, including burnout, compared with 50% across Europe. Thirty-one percent of UK respondents said motherhood harmed their career, above the 27% average. The UK showed some advantages: 11% reported partners did not take paternity leave (versus 25% average) and 32% said their role lacked societal recognition (versus 41%). Experts called for routine mental wellbeing checks and more support from GPs and NHS maternity services.

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