A Crisis of Crises
To address the maternal mental health crisis, we need to factor in the crises related to structural failures to support caregivers… and solve for them too.
[a note to our &Mother community]
Hi friend,
I prefer to write happy notes and updates to all of you in our community but these last few weeks have been ROUGH for women, especially mothers.
As Mental Health Awareness Month wraps up, I first want to check in.
How are you?
I also want to keep the conversation going past this one month of awareness. I want those struggling to know that it is not your fault, it is a societal failure. I want those of us who still have the energy to fight, to recognize that now is the time to demand better from our workplaces and our world. And I want those of us who need to give our own journey more space, to do that. We’ll fight for you until you’re ready to join us.
As a stress physiologist, I see the growing maternal mental health crisis as a crisis of crises: the stress of the childcare crisis compounded by the stress of the formula shortage crisis adding to the crisis of work-related instability and discrimination against mothers layering on top of the stress of simply existing as a parent in America today.
And as a crisis of crises, there are ways to demand change on both the treatment side AND the preventive medicine side. Make treatment available for everyone who needs help AND prevent the stress that pushes so many women over the edge.
We can fight on a grand scale by demanding real public investment in both maternal mental health services AND solutions that will limit or eliminate stress exposure for new mothers and caregivers — from affordable and accessible childcare to paid leave to federal protections for lactating parents and pregnant workers. Those most affected by the crisis of crises — those who live in “childcare deserts”, who must find placement for younger infants because paid leave is not available to them, who are surrounded by empty store shelves where formula should be, those carrying an elevated stress load related to financial instability, racism, and unsupportive, inflexible or discriminatory workplaces — will not find the same relief that many of us have privileged access to but deserve it all the same. (Activist note: if any or all issues above speak to you, follow the text links for more info on how to take action.)
We can fight on a small scale by pushing our own workplaces to equate “wellness” and mental health initiatives with key elements and support structures related to caregiving and motherhood. Here’s a starter pack on how the smallest things add up.
At &Mother, we know that the motherhood-related barriers standing in the way of true gender equity affect women at all levels, professional and personal, especially when it comes to their physical and mental health. This connection is embedded in our vision of the future and the work we do daily.
As women, as mothers, as [insert job title here], as humans, we thrive when we are healthy. And we are healthy when we are supported.
We see you. Take care of yourself.
❤️ Molly
Molly Dickens Molly Dickens is a co-founder and was the Executive Director of &Mother, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to breaking the barriers that limit a woman’s choice to pursue and thrive in both career and motherhood.
Learn more about our work at andmother.org.
