The Mental Health of Mothers Is Declining—Here’s Why We Should All Be Paying Attention
This post is Part 1 of our 3-part blog series, "When Moms Aren’t Okay." Over the next three days, we’ll explore how maternal mental health is being impacted, how that struggle affects relationships, and what solutions exist to help families thrive.
A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine is sounding an alarm that many mothers have been ringing for years: we are not okay.
Between 2016 and 2023, the number of U.S. mothers rating their mental health as “fair” or “poor” surged by over 60%. Fewer than 1 in 4 mothers now say their mental health is excellent. While this should stop us in our tracks, it’s not surprising to many of us doing this work—or living this experience.
This isn’t just a mental health story. It’s a systemic story.
What the Study Found
Researchers analyzed national health data from nearly 200,000 parents with children under 18. What they uncovered was deeply troubling:
A 63.6% increase in mothers reporting poor or fair mental health.
A drop in those reporting excellent mental health from 38% to 26%.
Fathers' mental health remained relatively stable in the same time frame.
The greatest declines occurred among mothers who are single, U.S.-born, from minoritized racial backgrounds, have lower education levels, or lack private insurance.
These numbers reflect more than just individual distress—they point to a society failing to support mothers.
💔 Why It Matters
Maternal mental health isn’t just about the mother—it’s about the entire family system. Untreated depression, anxiety, or burnout in mothers can affect early bonding, child development, and long-term health outcomes.
When mothers are overwhelmed, unsupported, and stretched thin, we see ripple effects in every direction: relationships, employment, health outcomes, and communities.
And this isn’t just postpartum depression. This is years into parenting. This is cumulative stress, chronic under-resourcing, and persistent inequities—especially for Black mothers and other women of color navigating both racism and sexism in healthcare.
⚠️ The Systemic Failures at Play
Let’s be clear: the issue is not that moms are “too sensitive” or “not resilient.” The issue is that we have built a society that treats motherhood like a personal choice, not a public health concern. Consider:
Inadequate or nonexistent paid leave.
The crushing cost of childcare.
Lack of access to culturally competent mental health care.
The expectation that mothers “do it all,” with no safety net.
It’s no wonder so many are struggling. What’s surprising is how long it’s taken for a study like this to confirm what mothers have long been saying.
Where Do We Go From Here?
We need more than awareness—we need action:
Better screening for maternal mental health beyond the postpartum window.
Affordable and accessible care that is culturally attuned.
Expanded parental leave and support policies.
Community-level programs that reduce isolation and economic stress.
This study may be one of the most comprehensive signals we’ve seen yet—but it should not be the last. We must keep asking: What do mothers need to be well? And what happens when we fail to meet that need?
Because when mothers are not okay, none of us can afford to look away.
Read Part 2: When Mothers Struggle, So Do Relationships
