MHM Magazine

18 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 2023 | Issue 3 MHM It’s too costly to do nothing about perinatal mental health problems in South Africa Perinatal mental health problems can have serious consequences for the health and wellbeing of mothers and their children. In South Africa, the estimated prevalence of the common conditions: perinatal depression, stress and anxiety, is one in three women, although in some communities it is up to one in two. High rates are linked to the burden of socio- economic adversities faced by women. The COVID-19 pandemic further worsened the situation. Considerable evidence demonstrates the relationship between perinatal mental health problems and poor pregnancy outcomes, infant growth and development problems, poor child physical and mental health, and reduced children’s educational achievement. We recently conducted a study in collaboration with colleagues from the London School of Economics and the South African Medical Research Council. We looked at the financial impact for South Africa of common mental health problems during pregnancy and after childbirth: depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and completed suicide. We used data Sally Field (Research Associate); Associate Professor Simone Honikman (Director) Perinatal Mental Health Project Alan J. Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health University of Cape Town Simone.Honikman@uct.ac.za IT’S TOO COSTLY TO DO NOTHING ABOUT PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN SOUTH AFRICA