By Dorothy Ainembabazi
The World Maternal Mental Health day is observed on the first Wednesday of May. In 2025, that would be May 7. Postpartum Support International also recognizes May as Maternal Mental Health Month, with a week dedicated to raising awareness.
This year, the theme is ‘Your voice, your strength’, and each day of the Awareness Week will have its own unique focus.
Briefly let me dive into what happens. A woman’s body undergoes many changes through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum that affect her in several ways. Until recently, there was limited discussion around the psychological effects of pregnancy and childbirth on the mental health of women.
According to the World Health Organisation, one in three to one in five women in developing countries, and about one in ten in developed countries, face significant mental health challenges during pregnancy and after childbirth. High rates of mental health challenges in pregnant women and mothers have been reported from many countries in Africa, including Uganda.
Postpartum depression is a mental health illness that women can experience after childbirth. The perinatal period is a particularly critical time to identify and address mental health concerns, as this period is associated with high incidences of mental illness.
Common perinatal mental disorders (CPMDs), such as depression, anxiety disorders, and postpartum psychosis, pose significant and lasting effects on women’s health and quality of life.
Gender inequality in women’s status in families, communities, the health system, and society is a key driver of CPMDs as well as a barrier to the provision of and access to care and support.
To better understand the current state of maternal mental health, USAID, UNFPA and WHO have brought together consultants in mental health and maternal health fields to talk about the unique inequities in access, services, and quality for women during the perinatal period, and about changing the status of perinatal mental health for women, their children, and communities.
However, I believe some recommendations should be made. For example, engage with communities to organize community-led interventions that can influence a paradigm shift in maternal mental health.
Recognize and address the gender-sensitive nature of the risks and consequences associated with maternal mental health issues.
Resist the urge to use western tools and interventions and focus on locally developed interventions that have been generated by and for the communities that need the services.
The author is the Communication officer AAYC
