Conclusion and final considerations

Addressing perinatal depression—which includes depression during pregnancy and postpartum—is undoubtedly a silent public health emergency. As evidenced throughout this module, this disorder is not only common but also deeply invisible, despite its impact on the mother, baby, family, and society at large.

One in five women may experience a depressive episode during this period, and yet many go unnoticed by the health system, partly due to a lack of awareness among healthcare personnel and partly due to social taboos surrounding motherhood. In this context, training and awareness-raising among healthcare personnel become essential tools.

Many professionals are not trained to identify symptoms of perinatal depression, especially since these women often remain functional: they care for their children, go to checkups, and appear to be well. If they are not asked directly about their emotional state, mothers are unlikely to verbalize it.

This is particularly true in a cultural context that idealizes motherhood as a time of fulfillment, where any sign of sadness is perceived as a personal failure or a sign of weakness.

Therefore, promoting ongoing training opportunities for professionals is essential to ensure early diagnosis and timely care. Breaking down social stigmas is another urgent task. We live in cultures where motherhood implies absolute sacrifice, and where maternal mental health takes a back seat to the well-being of the baby. Many women do not ask for help for fear of judgment, for fear of being seen as “bad mothers.”

This stigma is deepened when discussing psychotropic drugs during pregnancy or breastfeeding, which creates barriers to treatment. Not treating perinatal depression also exposes the baby to risk. Maternal depression negatively impacts bonding, child development, attachment, and even the child's future mental health. For all these reasons, a comprehensive approach to maternal and child emotional well-being is necessary.

This involves working not only with the mother, but also with her environment: her partner, family, health services, and community. It is essential to integrate psychological, medical, social, and cultural factors in eac