Maternal health crises often make headlines, but behind the statistics on mortality and physical complications lies another quiet epidemic: the mental health of new mothers. And it’s getting worse.
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the number of mothers experiencing poor mental health has increased over 60% since 2016. In recent years we have seen a sharp decline in maternal mental health due to systemic, social, and economic pressures. To address the deterioration in maternal mental health, a multidimensional approach is required, including legislative or policy modifications, increased access to mental health resources, and societal improvements in the view and support for motherhood.
One of the largest contributing factors to the decline of mothers’ mental health is the United States having a lack of federally funded mandated parental leave along with policies that are rooted in systematic oppression for those of low income backgrounds. America is one of the only industrialized countries without mandated parental leave. Mothers in Sweden are offered up to 480 days of paid parental leave, and the United Kingdom provides up to 39 weeks of partially paid leave. In contrast, the U.S. relies on the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which guarantees only 12 weeks of unpaid leave, and even this is inaccessible to approximately 40% of workers due to eligibility restrictions.
Addressing the maternal mental health crisis requires more than just new laws—it demands a cultural reset in how we view parenting and responsibility. Expanding access to paid leave, affordable childcare, and postpartum mental health care is essential but it’s not enough if society continues to place the weight of parenting solely on mothers. We must also demand the change of cultural expectations by encouraging and normalizing active paternal involvement. Studies conducted by Stanford University show in Sweden, when fathers were given just 30 extra days of paid leave, maternal health outcomes improved dramatically: anti-anxiety prescriptions dropped by 26%, hospitalizations fell by 14%, and antibiotic use decreased by 11%. Maternal health improves when caregiving duties are dispersed amongst partners.
Childcare in the US has become increasingly unaffordable, ultimately contributing to the decline of mothers’ mental health which disproportionately affects those in marginalized communities. In 2022, data from the United Way of the National Capital Area concluded that families paid between $6,552 and $15,600 annually for full-time care per child, with costs in places like D.C. reaching over $24,000 — more than many public college tuitions.
According to a report by Child Care Aware of America, for low-income parents, especially single mothers, childcare can eat up to 75% of their income, forcing many to leave the workforce. Despite this critical issue, Trump’s 2026 budget proposal cuts suggest a $750 million cut from Head Start programs, which could strip services away from 80,000 children across the country. If passed, this would hit rural and low-income communities hardest, taking away one of the few lifelines mothers have for early education, nutrition, and mental healthcare.
Government programs are not enough to fully combat the disparities for moms in marginalized communities. Inadequate mental health support disproportionately impacts low income neighborhoods that suffer from job insecurity and societal pressures,leaving many low-income mothers without access to consistent or culturally competent care. Job insecurity only worsens the crisis, as many moms work low-wage, unstable jobs with no paid leave, unpredictable hours, and no safety net.
Societal expectations demand that women “do it all” to be fully present, nurturing mothers while also working as if they don’t have children. In today’s economy, being a mother is a full-time job. Yet society offers little grace or support. This relentless pressure is not just exhausting; it’s deadly. According to the CDC, 20% of maternal deaths in the United States are due to suicide –a devastating reflection on how greatly we are failing our mothers.
From unaffordable childcare and unpaid leave to job insecurity and social pressure, our systems are failing the very people who hold them together. For low-income and single mothers, especially in marginalized communities, these burdens are magnified. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Countries like Sweden show us what’s possible when paternal leave is prioritized and caregiving is shared—maternal health improves, families stabilize, and women no longer have to sacrifice themselves to survive.
We must demand policies that support paid leave, equitable healthcare, and affordable childcare. Because when mothers are supported, everyone thrives. And right now, mothers aren’t just being let down, they’re being left behind.
