WORLD MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH DAY #MATERNALMHMATTERS

Background

An international taskforce met in late 2015 to start making plans for the first ever World Maternal Mental Health Day. The group decided that the event should be held each year on the first Wednesday of May, close to “Mother’s Day” and “Mental Health Wek” in Many Countries. This year, the event will hold across the world on May 4^th.  The taskforce is made up of 15 organizations around the world with a common goal of increasing awareness of maternal mental health issues.

Our organization, Postpartum Support Network (PSN) is a proud member of this taskforce.

Check:  www.wmmhday.postpartum.net/about/

Why We Need Maternal Mental Health Day

In many countries, as many as 1 in 5 new mothers experience some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). These illnesses frequently go unnoticed and untreated, often with tragic and long-term consequences to both mother and child.

No one is immune. Women of every culture, age, income level and race can develop postpartum depression. Symptoms can appear any time during pregnancy and the first 12 months after childbirth. There are effective and well researched treatment options available to help mothers recover.

Increasing awareness will drive social change with a goal toward the quality of care for mothers experiencing all types of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and reducing the stigma of maternal mental health. We are encouraging Health professionals, relatives of new moms to ask her how she’s really feeling and encourage her to seek help.

Our May 4^th Event

As a member of the taskforce Postpartum Support Network (PSN) would join the rest of the world in marking the first ever world maternal mental health day. The event will be held at Randle General Hospital Surulere, Lagos. It will have in attendance over two hundred expectant mothers.

The pregnant women will get to learn the facts about postpartum depression and other perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. They will also benefit from a free postpartum depression screening exercise.

Objectives

The goal is to equip mothers with knowledge about postpartum depression and other perinatal mood and anxiety disorders as this have been found to significantly reduce their chances of suffering these illnesses. Even when they do suffer these illnesses, knowledge of the symptoms will enable early detection, and would spur them to get professional help. Mothers will also learn how to get professional help.

The FREE Postpartum Depression screening exercise will also help in detecting mothers who are predisposed to suffering PPD. These mothers will then be encouraged to get professional help.

Social Media Campaign

In order to reach more mothers we are joining the rest of the global taskforce in spreading the message via social media using the hashtag #maternalMHmatters #PSNAfrica

Twitter Handle: @PSNAfrica

Facebook: www.facebook.com/psnafrica  

Website: www.wmmhday.postpartum.net