MOTHERHOOD AIN’T EASY –
Feb. 7, 2024 – About one in 10 people who can become pregnant worldwide deal with mental health issues during pregnancy and the postpartum period, according to the World Health Organization. Of these, the most common conditions are depression and anxiety, both of which fall under the umbrella of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. While most perinatal mental health issues are treatable, these conditions often go undiagnosed and untreated, especially among marginalized populations. For instance, data shows that 60% of perinatal women with depressive symptoms do not receive a clinical diagnosis, and half with a diagnosis do not receive treatment.
This gap in care takes a toll in more ways than one. A 2017 study shows that untreated PMADs cost parents and their children $32,000 dollars from conception to five years postpartum. That study also concluded that untreated PMADs resulted in a $3.4 billion increase in societal health expenditures and a $166 million increase in public assistance costs during the same time frame.
