ATLANTA — The Ad Council has launched a new nationwide campaign aimed at raising awareness about maternal mental health and encouraging new and expecting mothers to seek support.
The campaign, called “What’s Her Secret?”, focuses on the challenges many women experience during early motherhood, including depression and anxiety.
According to data, one in five mothers in the United States experiences symptoms of depression or anxiety, but 75% of those affected go undiagnosed or untreated.
Stigma, limited access to healthcare and a lack of awareness about symptoms are among the barriers preventing mothers from receiving help.
The campaign highlights those challenges with the message, “There is no secret to motherhood, there are only secrets we’re keeping about it.”
Maternal mental health conditions also disproportionately affect minority mothers, who are nearly twice as likely to experience these conditions but only half as likely to receive care.
Data shows that up to 40% of Black and Latina mothers experience postpartum depression, with additional barriers making treatment more difficult to access.
The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies maternal mental health conditions as the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths.
Through the “What’s Her Secret?” campaign, the Ad Council hopes to bring attention to the often-hidden struggles of motherhood while encouraging women to speak openly about their mental health and seek support.
WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Sabrina Cupit contributed to this story.