Becoming a mother is a beautiful and rewarding experience, but it comes with a set of challenges that often go unrecognized. Maternal mental health is a critical dimension of perinatal care that is often overlooked amid the focus on the physical aspect of pregnancy. During the perinatal period, expecting mothers are presented with biopsychosocial challenges and are sometimes more vulnerable to mental health disorders such as anxiety, mood disorders, and, in the most extreme cases, postpartum psychosis or mania. Although there is a growing understanding of perinatal psychiatric illness, many women continue to face stigma when seeking treatment that hinders identification and treatment of perinatal mental health disorders. Mental health professionals must enhance support for maternal mental health and actively dismantle stigma that adversely affects both mothers and children.
In The Media
Successful mental health pilot at risk as city stalls release of promised funds
Irma Garcia-Vargas, who lives with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, struggled to find stable housing and treatment years after she moved to New York. Garcia-Vargas, who
May 18, 2026
