Maternal mental health impacts early childhood development

“Mental health difficulties, including depression and anxiety, affect 10 to 20% of mothers during pregnancy and the year after childbirth, impacting their ability to provide adequate care, especially nurturing and responsive care, during this critical period of development of their child.

Perinatal mental health problems therefore not only have an adverse impact on the mother, but they also compromise the healthy emotional, cognitive and even physical development of the child, with serious long-term negative consequences.”

Every mother has the right to mental health – And every child has the right to develop to their full potential. It is the responsibility of government to adopt cross-sectorial policies that address maternal mental health issues and their impact on child development.

Karen Thorsen, MMM Representative at the UN in Geneva, delivered the Statement during the Interactive Dialogue that followed the presentation of the Annual Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health at the 35th session of the Human Rights Council

  MMM oral statement