Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty has emphasised the need for a national approach to postpartum mental healthcare, highlighting that one in five new mothers in India suffer from postpartum depression and calling for routine screening and support measures.
Sudha Murty has used a speech in the Rajya Sabha to push India’s government towards a national framework for postpartum mental healthcare, arguing that the issue is too often left out of routine maternal care. The Rajya Sabha MP described maternal mental health as an “essential yet frequently overlooked” part of healthcare and urged ministers to consider screening and support for women after childbirth.
Murty said studies suggest about 1 in 5 new mothers in India experience postpartum depression, a condition that can bring deep sadness, anxiety and exhaustion in the weeks and months after delivery. Her intervention has drawn fresh attention to a problem that is often hidden behind expectations that new mothers should feel only joy and gratitude.
Medical experts say postpartum depression is more serious than the short-lived mood changes commonly known as the “baby blues”. Symptoms can include persistent low mood, poor sleep, loss of interest, appetite changes, guilt and difficulty bonding with the baby. Research cited in the material supplied shows the burden in India may be even higher: a systematic review of 38 studies involving 20,043 women found a pooled prevalence of 22%, while another meta-analysis of 62 studies estimated 23.5%.
The case for screening is straightforward. The early postnatal period can be physically draining and emotionally isolating, with sleep loss, hormonal shifts, breastfeeding difficulties and recovery from delivery all adding pressure. Because those problems can be mistaken for ordinary adjustment, doctors say routine checks during postnatal visits could help identify women who need counselling, therapy, social support or, in some cases, medication. Murty’s call has placed maternal mental health closer to the centre of policy debate, with the broader message that care for mothers should not end at childbirth.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
