New Study Finds Steep Decline in Mothers’ Mental Health
Mental health among mothers in the U.S. is in serious trouble. A major new study shows what many moms already feel deep down. Something is broken, and it is getting worse fast.
Between 2016 and 2023, researchers tracked the mental well-being of nearly 200,000 mothers. The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, are startling. Moms reporting poor mental health jumped from 1 in 20 to 1 in 12. The number of moms who felt they were in “excellent” mental health fell from 38% to just 26%.
That is a massive shift in a short amount of time. And while the trend hit across all groups, it started off worse for single moms, lower-income households, and families on Medicaid.
Mental Health Is Taking a Major Hit
The steep decline isn’t random. It reflects a growing pile of pressures pushing mothers past their limits. Experts say these numbers signal a real crisis. Not just stress, a mental health emergency that is reshaping family life in America.
Olly / Pexels / Behind every number is a mother lying awake at 3 a.m., worrying about bills, kids, or feeling like she has lost herself.
It is deep exhaustion paired with a painful sense of being invisible and unsupported.
Mothers are carrying too much. Between the rising cost of housing, food, and childcare, finances are a daily struggle. And when it comes to caregiving, moms are still doing most of the work, from diapers to dinner, from doctor’s appointments to elder care. That is not sustainable.
Many mothers say they constantly feel like they are failing, even when they are doing everything. They feel guilty for not doing more, while already doing too much. And that guilt eats away at them quietly.
The System Is Not Built for Mothers
It is not just personal stress. The system itself is failing them. There is a huge gap in care. In 2025, 84% of women of childbearing age still live in areas without enough maternal mental health providers. Even when moms do get screened for depression or anxiety, they are often left with nowhere to go.
These gaps are most pronounced in high-risk areas, such as rural counties, low-income neighborhoods, and states like Texas and Alabama. That is where “Maternal Mental Health Dark Zones” exist, areas with sky-high need and almost no support. Moms in these places often get no help at all.
No One Talks About the Shame
Beyond the lack of services, there is something more silent and dangerous: shame. Many mothers don’t talk about how they feel because they think they are supposed to handle everything. Struggling feels like failure, and that keeps women quiet. That silence is heavy.
Josh / Pexels / Many mothers say they no longer know who they are. Their dreams, their needs, even their names, get pushed aside.
Society praises “supermoms,” but doesn’t support real women who are tired, scared, and human.
When Moms Suffer, So Do Kids
Research shows that a mother’s mental health has a direct impact on her children’s emotional well-being. Kids pick up on stress. They internalize it. It shapes how they grow and relate to others.
Mental health challenges in mothers are linked to anxiety, aggression, and social struggles in children. So this is not just a “mom problem.” It is a whole family problem. It is about the emotional future of the next generation.
So, healthcare needs to step up. That means expanding postpartum coverage, funding local support programs, and making mental health care part of routine care for every mom.