Happy international womens day! In honour of this very special day we will be speaking to Dr Silvia Rigato about maternal mental health. Dr Rigato is based at the University of Essex and researches maternal mental health and its impact on child development. She is also the co-founder of "It all starts in the womb" (https://www.essex.ac.uk/research-projects/it-all-starts-in-the-womb).
A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry estimates that 1 in 4 women mental health problems during pregnancy and in the two years postpartum. This is a staggering number of women that are suffering yet, maternal mental health isn't talked about nearly enough. Women are expected to navigate motherhood and raise their baby (or babies) as many before them have done with little to no support. We need to do better and support needs to be made available at all stages of this challenging journey for all women. It starts with having conversations and making people aware of the very real repercussions of ignoring maternal well-being and mental health.
A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry estimates that 1 in 4 women mental health problems during pregnancy and in the two years postpartum. This is a staggering number of women that are suffering yet, maternal mental health isn't talked about nearly enough. Women are expected to navigate motherhood and raise their baby (or babies) as many before them have done with little to no support. We need to do better and support needs to be made available at all stages of this challenging journey for all women. It starts with having conversations and making people aware of the very real repercussions of ignoring maternal well-being and mental health.
What is Happy Little Minds - Ask the scientist?
Happy Little Minds - Ask the scientist podcast brings evidence-based information to parents straight from child development researchers. Hosts Dr. Louisa Gossé and Dr. Maheen Siddiqui are psychology researchers based at the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development at Birkbeck, University of London. Join them monthly as they invite parents to chat directly with child development experts on various topics, asking questions that are relevant and important to parents and simplifying the research. Follow Happy Little Minds on Instagram @happylittlemindspodcast and @happy_littleminds to connect with us and for posts about your child's brain development.