America’s Mothers Are in Crisis—And It’s Time We Paid Attention
A growing body of research confirms what many of us in the mental health field have seen for years: mothers in the U.S. are facing a full-blown mental health crisis.
According to a major study published in JAMA Internal Medicine and reported by reputable outlets like ABC News, maternal mental health has declined significantly across the country—and the numbers are more than alarming. They're a call to action.
📊 Key Findings on Maternal Mental Health Decline
The JAMA study analyzed data from nearly 200,000 mothers between 2016 and 2023. Here’s what it revealed:
“Excellent” mental health among mothers dropped from 38% in 2016 to just 26% in 2023—a 32% decline.
Reports of “fair” or “poor” mental health nearly doubled, increasing from 5.5% to 8.5–9%.
Reports of excellent physical health also declined (from 28% to 24%).
These declines were especially severe among:
While both mothers and fathers experienced a dip in mental health during this period, mothers reported consistently worse outcomes. In 2023, about 1 in 12 mothers reported fair or poor mental health—compared to 1 in 22 fathers.
🧠 Why This Is Bigger Than Individual Struggles
The U.S. Surgeon General has named parental mental health an urgent public health issue, and for good reason:
Poor maternal mental health is linked to developmental delays, behavioral challenges, and long-term mental health concerns in children.
It affects entire households, communities, and workplaces—driving up healthcare costs and reducing economic productivity.
And perhaps most tragically, mental health conditions are now the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., including suicides and overdoses.
This isn’t just about feeling overwhelmed. It’s about survival.
🔍 What’s Causing the Decline?
Researchers point to a perfect storm of contributing factors:
Limited access to mental health care, particularly for underserved populations
Social isolation, intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic
Economic stressors, including inflation, housing insecurity, and job instability
Substance use and trauma, compounded by gun violence, racism, and systemic inequality
Social media pressures, especially among younger mothers, which erode confidence and connection
An increase in awareness and willingness to report, which may amplify visibility but does not explain the overall downward trend
🏢 Why Workplaces Must Respond
As a therapist and consultant, I work with high-functioning mothers who are burned out, emotionally depleted, and silently struggling under the weight of caregiving, professional demands, and societal expectations.
Employers cannot afford to ignore this.
Maternal mental health is a workforce issue—not just a family issue. When mothers suffer, so does their job performance, engagement, retention, and overall well-being.
Smart organizations are starting to ask: How can we do better?
Here’s where to start:
🔹 Offer tailored mental health resources for parents, including workshops, intensives, and therapy access
🔹 Create psychologically safe spaces for working mothers to be honest about their needs
🔹 Train leadership on maternal mental health equity and workplace flexibility
🔹 Provide return-to-work support for new parents, not just a pat on the back and a laptop
📣 The Urgency of Action
We need systemic change—at the policy level, in healthcare, and yes, in our workplaces.
Experts and researchers are calling for:
Expanded access to mental health care
Improved parental leave policies
Better screening and intervention during the perinatal period
Targeted support for single mothers and low-income families
Investment in research and public education to reduce stigma
💬 What You Can Do Today
Whether you're a leader, colleague, parent, or ally—your role matters. Here's how to start:
✅ Acknowledge the crisis
✅ Advocate for better policies in your workplace or community
✅ Invest in mental health programming that supports mothers
✅ Reach out—because someone in your circle may be struggling more than you know
Final Thoughts
The ABC News article, grounded in data from JAMA Internal Medicine and bolstered by expert commentary, is one of many signals pointing to an urgent reality: our mothers are not okay.
It’s time to stop asking mothers to carry the world on their shoulders without support.
Let’s build systems—at work, at home, and in society—that see, hear, and uplift them.
