We are in a maternal mental health crisis
I remember when I was barely one month postpartum. I was sitting in bed at 3am, attempting to rock my baby back to sleep for the third time that night. Looking outside the window in the darkness of the night, one thought whispered at me: I have no idea who I am. No one told me how lost and confused you may feel as you grapple this huge shift in life. No one told me the anxious thoughts that you may have that would lead you to behaviors that can be so out of character.
With ongoing racial trauma, systemic oppression, and horrifying rates of Maternal Mortality, it’s no wonder that the alarming rates of mental health in pregnant and postpartum black women continue to rise. A global pandemic did not make it any better either.
It has been well-documented that we are in the midst of a maternal mental health crisis. Maternal Mental Health Issues are now getting more recognition and acknowledgement in the mental health world. And while these conditions are now getting more addressed, maternal mental health issues among women of color continue to be underreported and untreated.
Here are the facts:
1 in 5 women or birthing people are impacted by a mood disorder during the pregnancy or postpartum period. (Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, November 2021)
1 in 3 Black women or birthing people are at risk of developing a mood disorder during the perinatal period. But they are half as likely to receive treatment. (Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, November 2021)
Over 50 percent of cases of postpartum depression in women of color go underreported. Black women are one of the most undertreated groups for postpartum depression in the United States. (Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, November 2021)
There are many factors that may contributed to women of color being under treated in perinatal mood disorders. One of these factors is lack of screening. Research states that women of color, including Black, Asian American, Indigenous, and Latina women are less likely to be screened for depression in the postpartum period compared to White women. (Iyer, P, March 2021)
Another factor is access to mental health providers who are culturally affirming and understanding. Connecting with a mental health provider who specializes in the pregnancy and postpartum period while also being culturally affirming can make a significant difference in women of color feeling supported on this journey to healing. (Taylor & Gamble, 2017)
You aren’t alone in this journey. I know that these thoughts and feelings, especially during the most vulnerable time in your life, can be outright scary. And I want to give you hope: There is help. There are other birthing people and women who have gone through what you have gone through and have come out on the other side balanced, fulfilled, and ready to take on this new season.
Sources:
Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. (2021, November). November 2021 fact sheet maternal mental health black women birthing people. Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. Retrieved November 19, 2022, from https://www.mmhla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Black-Women-Birthing-People.pdf
Taylor, J., & Gamble, C. (2017, November 17). Suffering in silence. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/suffering-in-silence
Iyer, P. (2021, March 29). Racial disparities have been found in screening for postpartum mood disorders. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/racial-disparities-have-been-found-in-screening-for-postpartum-mood-disorders/?amp=true