LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Maternal Mental Health Month is a reminder to prioritize the mental well-being of new mothers, as approximately 20% of women in the postpartum period experience mental health issues, according to the World Health Organization. 

What You Need To Know

  • According to the World Health Organization, about 20% of women in the postpartum period experience mental health issues

  • Experts have said for years: mental health often goes undiagnosed

  • Mental health conditions are the most common complication before or after pregnancy

  • Stigma is the number one barrier to care that birthing people experience

That's why this year, experts and organizations like Maternal Mental Health Now, based in Los Angeles, are drawing attention to a critical factor impacting maternal mental health. 

Cassie Manjikian lives in Los Angeles County and has always wanted to be a mom.

"When I knew that I was pregnant, I took every class, I read every book," she said. 

After giving birth to her first son, Manjikian experienced something traumatic that she had a hard time understanding and would have never imagined. 

"My world just turned upside down with hormonal shifts and everything that happened to me," she said. "I experienced postpartum psychosis, which is a complete break in reality. So basically, I went five days with no sleep, and that brought on delirious hallucinations and auditory visuals like seeing things that weren't there. I was hospitalized and put into the psych ward where I was bound with leather restraints and sedated."

She said the sudden-onset illness she experienced as a new mom made her realize what experts have said for years: mental health often goes undiagnosed. 

Mental health conditions are the most common complication before or after pregnancy. 

Each year in the United States, 1 in 5 women will suffer from a mental health issue after pregnancy. According to the American Psychiatric Association, that's about 500,000 women each year.

Psychiatrist Sinmi Bamgbose said it can come in different forms.

"There's postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety," Bamgbose said. "But also postpartum psychosis, which is more rare. It happens at about 1% of all people after they've had a baby."

Kelly Conner, the executive director of the non-profit Maternal Mental Health Now, said stigma is the number one barrier to care that birthing people experience. 

"When you have a baby," Conner said, "it's supposed to be the most wonderful and joyous time of your life and when you're not feeling that way, many people are embarrassed or ashamed."

Conner said that's why the organization is reminding people about the struggles of mental health during this maternal mental health month.

"There's an opportunity to identify mental health challenges and respond to them to get the parent help that they need so that they're better able to support their developing child," said Conner.

Determined to break the silence surrounding mental health issues among mothers, Manjikian wants other moms to know that they're not alone.