Today is World Maternal Mental Health Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the mental health challenges faced by mothers around the globe. While the joys of motherhood are celebrated, it's crucial to recognize that many women struggle with various mental health issues during and after pregnancy, often without adequate support.
It reminds us that being a mom comes with its own set of challenges, including the ones you may not always see, the pressure to balance it all while keeping up appearances. But let's be real – behind the smiles and Instagram-worthy moments, many of us are struggling with our mental health.
Here in Canada, maternal mental health is a big deal. Postpartum depression, anxiety, and even psychosis are more common than you might think. Postpartum depression alone affects about 1 in 5 of us. It's not just feeling a little down – it's a heaviness that weighs on you, making it hard to connect with your baby or even get through the day. Anxiety, with the constant worrying, the feeling like you're never doing enough – it's exhausting.
Postpartum psychosis is something that doesn't get talked about nearly enough – hallucinations, delusions, mood swings that feel like you're on a rollercoaster you can't get off. It can happen to anyone.
But here's the thing – despite how common these issues are, many of us suffer in silence. There's this stigma around admitting that we're struggling, like it makes us less of a mom somehow. And let's not forget the lack of support. Yes, people might ask how you're doing, but how often do they really want to hear the truth?
That's why places like The Health Spot Family Wellness are so important. They get it. Offering you support led by Saira, who's not just a Registered Social Worker and Child/Youth Worker, but also someone who genuinely cares about helping moms like us. She's been there, done that, and she's made it her mission to support other moms through the ups and downs of infertility, pregnancy after an infertility journey, and motherhood.
With counselling, therapy, and other tools such as postpartum doula support, The Health Spot is here to help you reclaim your mental health. We've created a safe space where you can be real about what you're going through without fear of judgment. And that's something everyone could all use a little more of.
So, on this World Maternal Mental Health Day, let's keep the conversation going. Let's break down the stigma, reach out for support when we need it, and remind each other that it's okay not to be okay. Because when it comes to being a mom, we're all in this together.