"I gave birth three times, and no one in the maternity ward asked how I was feeling."

"I expected support, but the lack of understanding from those around me and my loved ones only added to my burden."

"A mother often takes a back seat after the birth of a child, while partners and the surrounding environment should pay more attention to her mental and physical well-being."

"This experience was difficult, painful, and accompanied by a lack of understanding."

These are just a few of the many comments we receive through our surveys on maternal mental health, regarding the support that is available or desperately needed. Postpartum depression and other mood changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period are not only real, but they affect about 18% of women. These women are among us. If you know five mothers, it is very likely that you know one who has faced mental health challenges during this extremely sensitive and important time for both her and her child.

The importance of systemic support is best illustrated by data showing that children of mothers suffering from depression are more likely to experience slower psychological, cognitive, neurological, and motor development. Depressed mothers, compared to those who are not depressed, report three times the risk of serious emotional problems in their children and even ten times the risk of disrupted mother-child relationships.

During 2023 and 2024, screening for postpartum depression was conducted in most healthcare facilities in the Republic of Srpska, serving as a simple yet extremely important tool for the prevention of this type of depression. Unfortunately, after the expiration of the Action Plan under which this screening was implemented, doctors and gynecologists ceased its application. Therefore, it is crucial to continue working on reintroducing this screening into the system and to expand its activities to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Brčko District, so that all women in Bosnia and Herzegovina have access to this preventive healthcare service.

"The goal of our campaign titled 'Advocating for the Introduction of Screening for postpartum depression in BiH' is to shift the focus from mere diagnosis and treatment to prevention, thereby ensuring better care for mothers and their children. By advocating for mandatory screening throughout BiH and promoting the development and adoption of the necessary documentation, as well as educating parents and healthcare workers, we aim to contribute to achieving this goal", said project coordinator Jelena Mihić Salapura.

Our goal is also to encourage more dialogue on this topic, so that pregnant women and mothers feel more comfortable discussing mental health during pregnancy and after childbirth with their surroundings and healthcare providers, and seeking help. It is crucial to raise awareness about this issue within healthcare institutions, which must recognize the importance of caring for mothers' mental health. Our activities are focused on contributing to the creation of a more effective system for protecting and caring for women's mental health, ensuring that every pregnant woman and mother has access to appropriate preventive and therapeutic support.

We are implementing the campaign "Advocating for the introduction of screening for postpartum depression in BiH" in collaboration with partner organizations: the Association for Education and Development "Dignitet" in Mostar, the Association of Families Facing Infertility "Bebe" in Trebinje, and the Active Women’s Association "Gender" in Brčko.