Global organisations are joining together today, 3 May, on World Maternal Mental Health Day to show that maternal mental health should be a priority.

In many countries, as many as 1 in 5 new mothers experience some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMADs) and estimates are that 7 in 10 women hide or downplay their symptoms. Without understanding, support and treatment these mental illnesses have a devastating impact on the women affected and on their partners and families.

2016 was the inaugural World Maternal Mental Health Day, started by an international task force. The campaign continues this year and aims to raise awareness of, influence policy on and change attitudes towards maternal mental health.

To get involved in this year’s World Maternal Mental Health Day:

> Visit http://wmmhday.postpartum.net/

> Join the global partners (currently 73)

> Add a Twibbon to your Twitter profile

> Download the infographic on maternal mental health available in a variety of languages

> Tweet and post on Facebook using #maternalMHmatters

> If you are running an event for World Maternal Mental Health Day, register it alongside the other global events

What is happening in the UK on World Maternal Mental Health Day?

This week (1-7 May) is also the UK’s first Maternal Mental Health Matters Awareness Week, led by the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership (PMHPUK). On 3 May PMHPUK will be encouraging the creation of a virtual positivity pot for people to ‘dip into’ on social media. This pot will include quotes from mums about what has helped them during their recovery and will use the hashtag #perinatalpositivitypot. Follow @PMHPUK on Twitter and visit the Facebook page to join in.