Pointing to the importance of the mental health of mothers and their babies, experts point out that in many countries, 1 out of every 5 mothers has a mental disorder related to pregnancy or childbirth. It is emphasized that the mother's mental illness during pregnancy and after birth poses a high risk of adversely affecting the emotional, mental, social and physical development of the child.
Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın, Director of Üsküdar University Maternal and Infant Mental Health Practice and Research Center, said that the first week of May is known as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week and the first Wednesday of May is known as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day by the World Maternal Mental Health Awareness Association.
Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın: "We aim to support the mental health of mothers and babies"
Noting that the first World Maternal Mental Health Day was held on May 4, 2016, Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın said that this week and special day, which is held to protect the mental health of mothers and their babies during pregnancy or after having a baby, aims to raise awareness to support all mothers. Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın said, "In this special week, we focus on advocating for mothers affected by mental health issues, ensuring they have access to accurate information and helping them get the support they need to ensure their recovery."
Coronavirus update: "Supporting moms during difficult times"
Noting that there are some differences in the celebrations this year due to the global coronavirus outbreak, Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın said:
"This year's theme has been updated as 'support for mothers in difficult times'. In this extraordinary time, we aimed to offer a campaign that can provide the safe support that people need most. We aim to ensure that everyone who follows this week's agenda (mother, father, grandfather, grandfather, relative, friend, health worker, psychologist) is informed about the importance of maternal mental health and benefits from the support offered. Our energies will be focused on ensuring that parents feel well informed and supported in these times of heightened anxiety, and that they are able to feel at peace."
1 in 5 mothers suffer from mental disorders
Noting that in many countries, 1 out of every 5 mothers has a mental disorder related to pregnancy or childbirth, Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın said, "These illnesses often go unrecognized and untreated, often leading to tragic and long-term consequences for both mother and child."
No one is immune to these diseases!
Noting that women of all cultures, ages, income levels and races can develop a mental disorder related to pregnancy or childbirth, Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın said, "Symptoms can occur during pregnancy and in the first 12 months after birth. Effective and well-researched treatment options are available to help women recover."
The disease is not a crime!
Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın said, "When women harm their babies due to untreated mental illness, they are sometimes considered criminals rather than patients in need of treatment. We aim to prevent these tragedies by raising awareness. This will ensure that mothers receive fair and science-based care. Increased awareness will lead to social change to improve the quality of care for women with all types of mental illness and reduce the stigmatization of maternal mental illness. We encourage mental health professionals, friends and relatives of our mothers to ask her how she is feeling and seek help."
Mental health problems are not shared
Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın noted that they are making efforts to raise awareness at the social level, especially on maternal mental health and said, "Most mothers who experience a mental health problem during pregnancy or in the first year after having a child cannot tell anyone about it and suffer in silence. Most women do not tell anyone what they are going through for fear of what others will think or do. They worry that others will think they are weak or bad mothers, or that they will take their children away. These concerns prevent them from getting the help and support they need," she warned.
The future of the child is also at risk
Emphasizing that the mother's mental illness during pregnancy and after birth poses a high risk of adversely affecting the emotional, mental, social and physical development of the child, Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın said, "These problems increase the risk of anxiety, depression, attention deficit, slow learning, poor performance at school and criminal behavior. These negative effects on children can last until adulthood."
Most maternal suicides are preventable
"Most of the maternal suicides in the last 20 years are preventable maternal deaths," Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın said:
"Unfortunately, 20% to 25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage or stillbirth. Following these, symptoms of grief may occur in the mother. Some of these women may also experience postpartum depression following miscarriage or stillbirth. Parents undergoing infertility treatment are also in great need of psychological support. However, unfortunately, they are often neglected due to the intensity of the process.
Giving birth to a premature child or having a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit for a long period of time can also negatively affect maternal mental health. In all these processes, the more informed and conscious the parents, their relatives and friends are, the faster and more effective it will be to seek help and provide appropriate care."
Mother and Infant Mental Health Symposium
Aydın stated that on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, Üsküdar University Maternal and Infant Mental Health Application and Research Center will organize "Maternal and Infant Mental Health Zoom Webinar Symposium" with the participation of important names.
Social media hashtags
Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın noted that the social media hashtags for this week were determined as follows:
Our hashtags, in partnership with international organizations: #WMMHday In the national context: #anneruhsağlığı #üsküdarABRSM #annebebekruhsağlığı"