Maternal mental health impacts early childhood development

06.06.17

UN Geneva / Human Rights Council - MMM calls on Governments to recognize and address maternal mental health difficulties, and to invest in parenting support and early childhood education and care, so that every child develop to their full potential.

“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

 

 

Most read articles

MMM welcomes first ever Human Rights Council resolution on Care

11.10.23

UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - Entitled ‘Centrality of care and support from a human rights perspective’, this landmark resolution was presented by the governments of Argentina, Iceland, Mexico

Lire plus

A snapshot of our Women at the Peace Table Conference

20.06.23

It was by all accounts, a remarkable gathering of global peacemakers. They came from all over the world to lend their voice and support to the message of the Conference:

Lire plus

Call to action: make 2024 the EU year for Women’s Mental Health

09.10.23

In June this year, the European Union (EU) Commission announced a new high-priority initiative to address the mental health of all Europeans.

Lire plus
See all the articlesof the category

Latest News from MMM and its Network

Every mother should have access to the long-term care she needs and deserves

20.04.24

In a timely joint statement, we at Make mothers Matter, along with 16 European NGOs, have urged EU policymakers to prioritise long-term care in the upcoming 2024-2029 legislature. This call comes as the Belgian

Read more

Supporting mothers as caregivers and educators – MMM @ the Human Rights Council

26.03.24

UN Geneva - As the 55th session of the Human Rights council wraps up, here is an overview of our contributions to the discussions that took place on a wide range of topics. Our aim with all our interventions wa

Read more

Mothers run the most demanding start-up: the family

24.03.24

UN New York, CSW68 - These wise words, uttered by of one of the speakers at our event, Let's change the narrative: invest in mothers, sums up the challenges faced by mothers. Organised online on the margins of

Read more

Let’s change the narrative: Invest in Mothers

11.03.24

UN New York, CSW68 - Join us for a discussion on changing the narrative in support of mothers - an online parallel event to the 68th UN Commission on the Status of Women

Read more

Be Family® – committing companies to act in support of families in the workplace

01.03.24

MMM as founding member, is pleased to announce the launch of Be Family®, a bold and new movement that aims to ensure companies and organisations act inclusively and responsibly towards families and people with

Read more

Inclusive social protection for realising children’s rights

01.03.24

UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - - Co-organised with a group of Child Rights organisations, we invite you to join us for this hybrid event which will take place around the HRC's annual day of the rights of the

Read more