This was the appeal which President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca made during her opening speech at the Maternal Mental Health Conference, entitled ‘Breaking down barriers to seeking help during pregnancy and the postpartum’, organised by the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
President Coleiro Preca reiterated what she stated during last year’s commemoration of World Maternal Health Day – when she had said that issues of maternal health are not simply women’s isses. The President said that it is important that each member of our society realises that issues of maternal health are intrinsically tied to fundamental human rights.
“I also believe that, maternal mental wellbeing is an essential component in the healthy development of our families and communities,” the President said.
“We need to promote maternal mental wellbeing, to ensure healthier lives of all the citizens of the Maltese Islands”
The President said that achieving the healthy development of our families and communities is also at the heart of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 which focuses on ensuring holistic health, and sustainable wellbeing for all the people of the world.
The President said that Agenda 2030 provides all countries with practical guidelines for the necessary action plans, for a sustainable future for all humanity, while it also proposes ways, for each one of us, as individuals and as communities, to take action, to ensure the wellbeing of our societies.
“The mental and physical health of mothers, is definitely the cornerstone of stronger families, and it is also essential to ensure the wellbeing of society,” the President said.
“I believe that there is a need for us to work together to develop parallel strategies, both at National and at European Level”
President Coleiro Preca said that now is the time ‘for us to push for relevant directives within the European Union, since these are still lacking,’ whilst adding that these directives should aim at further highlighting the need for a holistic strategy and action plan, on maternal mental health, as in this way, the authorities of member states will be bound to act.
Apart from this, the President said that ‘we will have an opportunity to work in synergy across Europe while sharing good practices.’
President Coleiro Preca said this in the light of recent reports published by MSD for Mothers, which state that 54% of pregnant women in nine European Countries lacked access to Maternal Health Care, and were living in poverty.
“If such women do not event have access to even basic maternal healthcare,” the President said, “then they are still less able to access effective care for mental health.”
“In response, we need to further strengthen the links, across our nations, and within our communities, while taking practical actions to show solidarity, with all mothers who are experiencing issues of mental health,” the President said.
“We cannot allow stigma and silence, to continue to surround, vital issues of mental health”
The President said that there is research that shows that the stigma attached to mental health increases even more for mothers with depression. Research also shows that a sense of shame and a reluctance to seek help by mothers prevails.
“Some of the fear experienced by women, is a result of the social and cultural pressures to be a perfect parent. Hence this leads many women to remain silent,” the President added.
Here, President Coleiro Preca urged all women to speak about the stress and the challenges which form an integral part of motherhood, which undoubtedly is a wonderful time, in a woman’s life.
“Reaching for help, when we need it, should not be seen, as a sign of weakness. It is often, one of the most courageous things we can do. Sharing, connecting, and building honest and open relationships are crucial for mental wellbeing. This sense of openness should be part of day-to-day family life,” the President said.
President Coleiro Preca said that we must be comfortable to ask for help from family members and friends. Often, a simple conversation is the first step towards receiving support and help.
“We must do more, as a concerned society, to safeguard the mental health of all, including mothers”
The President said that we must reach out to mothers who experience challenges to their mental health, adding that entire families will benefit from strategies which empower women, particularly those going through, or who have gone through, pregnancy.
“We must do more to nurture stronger synergies between civil society and national authorities, to ensure that the necessary and relevant policies are effectively and fully implemented,” the President stated, whilst adding that the experiences of women must continue to be included in the formulation, and the ongoing review of relevant policies.
“Women and families deserve to be supported in a variety of ways, especially when issues of mental health, as a result of pregnancy, become a cause of concern”
The President quoted indicators from the World Health Organisation which state that 10 per cent of all pregnant women, and 13 percent of women who have just given birth, experience a mental health disorder, particularly depression. “These indicators are even more alarming in developing countries,” President Coleiro Preca said, “where over 15% of women during pregnancy, and 19% of women, after child birth, are reported to experience depression.”
“The good news is that maternal mental disorders are treatable”
President Coleiro Preca said that ‘we must ensure that mothers experiencing despression, and other conditions, know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.’Early detection must also be ensured.
In fact, President Coleiro Preca said that pregnant women should be screened at their first appointment, and throughout their pregnancy. She stated that early effective interventions, and interdisciplinary action is needed, and that pregnant women and mothers in the postpartum period can, and should, be screened for maternal mental health disorders.
“More constructive efforts must be made, as research shows that 50% to 75% of mothers with mental health issues are not detected, although pregnancy and postpartum is the time when women have the most contact with healthcare professionals,” President Coleiro Preca said.
Lastly, the President said that even though fathers do not experience the same physical changes as women do through pregnancy and childbirth, they are still exposed to some of the same triggers of stress, which can lead to depression.
For this reason, President Coleiro Preca called for a holistic approach to treating mental health of families, as this is also reflected in the wellbeing of our communities, our society, and our nation.