#Maternalmentalhealth

A major new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has revealed a sharp and troubling decline in mental health among mothers in the United States over the past decade, a trend that experts say has wide-ranging implications for families, communities, and even international health policy—including in Thailand. The percentage of US mothers self-reporting “excellent” mental health plummeted from 38.4% in 2016 to just 25.8% in 2023, while the proportion rating their mental health as “fair” or “poor” soared by more than 60% during the same period. These findings, based on a nationally representative survey of nearly 200,000 mothers, shine an urgent spotlight on the challenges facing parents and the cascading consequences for child and societal well-being.

A major study published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows a sharp decline in mental health among US mothers over the past decade. The findings highlight how societal pressures, economic stress, and gaps in care affect families and could inform policy in Thailand as it strengthens its own maternal support systems. In the United States, self-reported “excellent” mental health among mothers fell from 38.4% in 2016 to 25.8% in 2023. The share rating their mental health as “fair” or “poor” rose by more than 60% in the same period, based on a nationally representative survey of nearly 200,000 mothers. The results emphasize the broad impact on child development, family stability, and community health.

A recent large-scale study has revealed a significant decline in mothers’ mental health across socioeconomic groups between 2016 and 2023, raising urgent questions about the impact of intensive parenting practices on psychological well-being. Health and education experts in Thailand, where family and achievement hold central roles in society, are watching these findings closely for clues about parenting’s evolving pressures and how best to support families through them (Boston Globe).

In a groundbreaking analysis involving almost 200,000 mothers and data from the National Survey of Children’s Health, researchers observed the percentage of mothers reporting “excellent” mental health drop from 38.4% in 2016 to just 25.8% in 2023. Meanwhile, the prevalence of those rating their mental health as “fair” or “poor” rose from 5.5% to 8.5%. This decline cuts across mothers with children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers, and extends through varied economic backgrounds.

A new, large-scale study reveals a notable drop in mothers’ mental health from 2016 to 2023 across socioeconomic groups. As Thailand places high value on family harmony and achievement, Thai health and education experts are keen to understand how intensive parenting practices might be contributing to rising stress among mothers and families.

The study tracked nearly 200,000 mothers, using data from the National Survey of Children’s Health. It found that the share reporting “excellent” mental health fell from 38.4% in 2016 to 25.8% in 2023. Those rating their mental health as “fair” or “poor” rose from 5.5% to 8.5%. The decline spans ages from newborns to teenagers and crosses economic backgrounds.

A newly published study tracking nearly 200,000 mothers has found a significant decline in moms’ mental health across the United States from 2016 to 2023. According to research utilizing data from the National Survey of Children’s Health, the percentage of mothers reporting “excellent” mental health plummeted from 38.4% to just 25.8%, while reports of “fair” or “poor” mental health climbed from 5.5% to 8.5% in that period. While external factors such as the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic stressors are well documented, researchers and mental health experts are now probing the role of “overparenting”—the growing tendency for parents to become overly involved in their children’s emotional and practical lives—as a potentially underrecognized source of chronic stress and burnout among mothers (Boston Globe).

A new large-scale study tracking nearly 200,000 mothers in the United States finds a worrying decline in maternal mental health from 2016 to 2023. The data show a drop in mothers reporting excellent mental health from 38.4% to 25.8%, while those reporting fair or poor mental health rose from 5.5% to 8.5%. Researchers suggest that beyond pandemic and economic pressures, there may be a connection to overparenting — the trend of parents increasingly managing their children’s emotional and practical lives. This analysis draws on data from the National Survey of Children’s Health and is discussed in contemporary coverage by major outlets.

The tragic reality faced by many families after childbirth is coming into sharper focus, with the latest research and high-profile personal accounts underscoring a crisis: the mental health of new mothers, particularly those facing postpartum psychosis, remains dangerously overlooked. A recent heartfelt piece in The Independent tells the story of Rich Baish, whose wife developed severe anxiety and exhaustion after the birth of their daughter. Despite noticing troubling changes, Rich and his wife—like so many parents—did not understand the signs of postpartum psychosis, a rare but life-threatening condition. Within a month of giving birth, she took her own life, leaving a family shattered by grief and questions about how such tragedies continue to happen despite being preventable.The Independent

Recent reports and personal stories are shedding light on a crisis that affects families worldwide: the mental health of new mothers, including postpartum psychosis. A heartfelt feature recounts a husband’s struggle after his wife developed severe anxiety and exhaustion following their child’s birth. Despite early warning signs, both partners lacked awareness of postpartum psychosis, a rare but life-threatening condition. Within weeks, the mother took her own life, leaving a grieving family seeking answers about preventable tragedies.