049: The big problem with some maternal mental health content
Plus, what we’re calling on all motherhood media brands, experts and influencers to *always* do
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If you ever find yourself scrolling #momstagram — that corner of social media where the algorithm serves up motherhood content on repeat — you’ve likely noticed the positive, encouraging trend of discussing and normalizing perinatal mental health conditions such as perinatal/postpartum depression or anxiety.
Putting a spotlight on maternal mental health is a good thing. Raising awareness around perinatal mental health conditions and sharing stories about our own experiences can help to decrease stigma, encourage others to speak up, and build the support systems we so desperately need more of in this country.
There’s great power in sharing stories about perinatal mental health conditions. There’s power in sharing your story — whether with a new mom friend, on social media, or in your community. Knowing you’re not alone when you’re facing a perinatal mental health condition can be healing, a big part of recovery, even.
And… sharing stories isn’t enough. When it comes to perinatal mental health, sharing our own stories or the stories of others is only one piece of the puzzle. It’s only one part of what can help someone on the receiving end of that story — whether that’s in person or online — get the help they need.
We’re writing this issue today because we have noticed a troubling trend on social media, in the mainstream media, and in the way we speak about perinatal mental health in general. We have noticed that while more and more platforms, medical professionals, writers, and media outlets are talking about maternal mental health, the ways in which they are doing so are not always beneficial — and worse, could have severe consequences.
Here’s what we mean:
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