Honoring Mothers in May is Good Mental Health

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following are remarks delivered by Dr. H. Steven Moffic during a recent broadcast of Talk Ten Tuesdays.

To begin May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, May 5 was World Maternal Mental Health Day. Following that was Mother’s Day last Sunday, probably the most emotionally powerful special day on the calendar – beloved by some mothers and families, but painful for others due to family conflicts or losses, complicated this year by the pandemic.

As more women have entered the psychiatric field, much new hard-data research about mothering has been collected over the past decade. Here are some summary points:

  • Due to prior and current psychological factors, as well as hormonal changes, about 20 percent of women worldwide experience some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, including the very concerning postpartum depression, and pregnancy-associated suicide kills more women than either hemorrhage or preeclampsia – all of which indicates the need for careful monitoring by the OB-GYN and pediatric teams.
  • Recognized perinatal mental illness (and much is not recognized) comes with anguishing decisions about the risks versus the benefits of psychiatric medication.
  • After other hormonal changes during pregnancy, an infusion of the “love hormone” oxytocin during labor and delivery primes and sensitizes mothering instincts, making the child the top priority, although at times those can be compromised by other cognitive and environmental factors.
  • Caregivers other than the biological mother can develop such love and caring, meaning men and other women, and even a small group, but that seems to take at least a month or two of intense bonding experiences with the baby.
  • That means that it is important for the biological mother to be psychologically healthy, and able to intensely bond with the baby for at least the first month or two, when basic trust is developing.
  • Supplemental caregiving and loving from others during that time provides extra nursing benefits.
  • The secret ingredient is the potential role of the maternal grandmother, with a long historical track record of improving the child’s physical viability and psychological well-being, as long as there is a good relationship with the mother – and if so, being closer geographically is better.

Here are some recent illustrative responses from a New York Times reader survey:

“My mother showed us the idea of unconditional love before it was a fashionable term, with the simple expression, ‘I’m on my way.’”

“I gave birth to my first child one month ago, and honestly feel my mom has been the most important person in my son’s life.”

“I’m so glad I was able to raise my family apart from the ravages of intergenerational abuse.”

“In one of life’s greatest blessings, I was essentially rescued by a slightly older dear friend whose children were grown.”

“I’m Chinese-American, so my mother did the traditional monthlong sit-in after each of my pregnancies. It took us a while to find our balance”.

It seems to me that the emerging research is telling us, as well as the workplace, more clearly how to get a new baby off to a good start with adequate unconditional, intense love. Now, which of these models best fits our current research understanding of best mothering? It is the traditional Chinese-American one – although, as we can also see, there are ways to develop alternatives so our children can get a good start in life and prevent some mental illness in children (which, along with adults, has been rising over the last decade or two.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

H. Steven Moffic, MD

H. Steven Moffic, MD, is an award-winning author whose fifth book, “The Ethical Way: Challenges & Solutions for Managed Behavioral Health,” is considered a seminal study on healthcare ethics. Always in demand as a writer, Dr. Moffic has attracted a national audience with his three blogs— Psychiatry Times, Behavior Healthcare, and Over 65.H. Dr. Moffic, who is also a popular guest on Talk Ten Tuesdays, recently received the Administrative Psychiatry Award from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Association of Psychiatrist Administrators (AAPA).

Related Stories

Leave a Reply

Please log in to your account to comment on this article.

Featured Webcasts

2026 IPPS Masterclass 3: Master MS-DRG Shifts and NTAPs

2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 3: MS-DRG Shifts and NTAPs

This third session in our 2026 IPPS Masterclass will feature a review of FY26 changes to the MS-DRG methodology and new technology add-on payments (NTAPs), presented by nationally recognized ICD-10 coding expert Christine Geiger, MA, RHIA, CCS, CRC, with bonus insights and analysis from Dr. James Kennedy.

August 14, 2025
2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 2: Master ICD-10-PCS Changes

2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 2: Master ICD-10-PCS Changes

This second session in our 2026 IPPS Masterclass will feature a review the FY26 changes to ICD-10-PCS codes. This information will be presented by nationally recognized ICD-10 coding expert Christine Geiger, MA, RHIA, CCS, CRC, with bonus insights and analysis from Dr. James Kennedy.

August 13, 2025
2026 IPPS Masterclass 1: Master ICD-10-CM Changes

2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 1: Master ICD-10-CM Changes

This first session in our 2026 IPPS Masterclass will feature an in-depth explanation of FY26 changes to ICD-10-CM codes and guidelines, CCs/MCCs, and revisions to the MCE, presented by presented by nationally recognized ICD-10 coding expert Christine Geiger, MA, RHIA, CCS, CRC, with bonus insights and analysis from Dr. James Kennedy.

August 12, 2025

Trending News

Featured Webcasts

The Two-Midnight Rule: New Challenges, Proven Strategies

The Two-Midnight Rule: New Challenges, Proven Strategies

RACmonitor is proud to welcome back Dr. Ronald Hirsch, one of his most requested webcasts. In this highly anticipated session, Dr. Hirsch will break down the complex Two Midnight Rule Medicare regulations, translating them into clear, actionable guidance. He’ll walk you through the basics of the rule, offer expert interpretation, and apply the rule to real-world clinical scenarios—so you leave with greater clarity, confidence, and the tools to ensure compliance.

June 19, 2025
Open Door Forum Webcast Series

Open Door Forum Webcast Series

Bring your questions and join the conversation during this open forum series, live every Wednesday at 10 a.m. EST from June 11–July 30. Hosted by Chuck Buck, these fast-paced 30-minute sessions connect you directly with top healthcare experts tackling today’s most urgent compliance and policy issues.

June 11, 2025
Open Door Forum: The Changing Face of Addiction: Coding, Compliance & Care

Open Door Forum: The Changing Face of Addiction: Coding, Compliance & Care

Substance abuse is everywhere. It’s a complicated diagnosis with wide-ranging implications well beyond acute care. The face of addiction continues to change so it’s important to remember not just the addict but the spectrum of extended victims and the other social determinants and legal ramifications. Join John K. Hall, MD, JD, MBA, FCLM, FRCPC, for a critical Q&A on navigating substance abuse in 2025.  Register today and be a part of the conversation!

July 16, 2025

Trending News

Prepare for the 2025 CMS IPPS Final Rule with ICD10monitor’s IPPSPalooza! Click HERE to learn more

Get 15% OFF on all educational webcasts at ICD10monitor with code JULYFOURTH24 until July 4, 2024—start learning today!

CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24