May 6th is World Maternal Mental Health Day.

1 in 5 new mothers experience some type of perinatal mood or anxiety disorder (PMADs). These illnesses frequently go unnoticed and untreated, often with tragic and long-term consequences to both mother and child.

Women of every culture, age, income level and race can develop perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Women are sometimes considered to be criminals rather than patients needing treatment.

In today's podcast, Dinah speaks to Clare Wimalasundera, PR Director at In Diverse Company, who shares her personal journey with IVR and her experience of having her latest round through the COVID-19 crisis as well as having her husband who is a GP, working on the frontline and Kim French, Business Development Director at CherryDuck Productions with her experience living with OCD and how the birth of her daughter Johanna, pushed her OCD to a level that required her to get the help she needed.

This year's theme is 'Supporting Mums through difficult times', through increasing awareness, we can all drive social change to improve the quality of care for women experiencing all types of PMAD's and reduce the stigma of maternal mental illness.

We hope today's episode help's any mother that might be struggling and encourages them to speak out and seek help from health professionals, friends or family.