The global burden of perinatal depression: A call to action

Pregnancy and childbirth are celebrated as milestones in a woman's life, yet there exists a prevalent condition that is less frequently acknowledged and often misunderstood--perinatal depression (PND).This often-silent struggle, hidden from society's and health system's gaze, remains a formidable challenge for countless women despite effective interventions.Here, I shed light on the stark global disparities in the prevalence and management of perinatal depression, delving into determinants, challenges, and recommendations for the way forward. Focus needs to shift away from mere physical to include mental healthThe focus of maternal and newborn health has traditionally been centered on physical wellbeing, primarily aimed at reducing newborn and infant mortality rates 1.Maternal mortality had not gained recognition as a significant public health concern until the latter part of the 20th century 2.While there were occasional mentions in international discussions, it wasn't until 1985, spurred by a thought-provoking article titled "Where is the 'M' in MCH?"3 (referring to maternal and child health), that the international community began to seriously address the health of pregnant women.However, it's imperative that our attention now also includes mental health in MCH.Managing perinatal depression is not only crucial for safeguarding maternal health, but untreated perinatal depression also has far-reaching negative consequences for families.It poses risks to the mother-infant bonding process, and can affect everyday care as well as a child's cognitive, psychosocial, and motor development 4.