Maternal health is declining throughout Europe

In a township outside London in April, a choir designed to support the well-being of mothers was born. To the BBC, the creator of the project explained how the idea came to her after her first maternity leave: there were plenty of classes to do with babies, but there was a lack of programmes designed specifically for mothers. If a woman is well after pregnancy, her children are well, and the benefit extends first to the surrounding community. And, then, to the wider society.

Against this valid basic thesis, the reality for mothers in Europe today, however, is very different. Stress, depression, states of anxiety and poor wellbeing are the norm, not the exception. According to analysis by Make Mothers Matter, a network of 50 organisations in 30 countries, more than 2/3 of the approximately 10,000 respondents say they are mentally overwhelmed. One third report suffering from anxiety, 20% from depression and 18% from burnout.

Particularly exposed appear to be mothers with young children, those with multiple children, those on low incomes and single mothers. And, in terms of age, the youngest. Between the ages of 18 and 25, 69% of respondents indicate that they have had mental health problems, against a general average of 50%.

Geographically, it is clear that the health of mothers is declining throughout Europe. A third of mothers in Sweden suffer from depression, a quarter in Germany and the UK. 42% of Spanish mothers confirmed states of anxiety in the year preceding the research. And in Italia 68% report living with mental overload. According to Save the Children in the boot, 59% of women say they keep thinking about everything at the end of the day (39% of men do). 43% bear the emotional burden of supporting others and report health problems related to mental load. And chronic stress, anticipatory anxiety and insomnia are prevalent among them.

Things do not get better when it is time to go back to work. Many European mothers find themselves squeezed between impossible social expectations and policies that have not kept up with the times. There is a lack of childcare facilities. Leave for parents is inadequate. And attitudes hostile to motherhood are still prevalent in many workplaces.