Motherhood comes with lots of joy, love, and meaning but also with increased responsibilities, overwhelm, and sacrifice. Many women are too good at putting others first and forgetting to take care of themselves. They show up every day for their families, but internally, they may feel stretched thin, emotionally drained, and disconnected from themselves.
Even as conversations around mental health become more common, the unique mental health needs of moms are often overlooked—or worse, dismissed. That’s why it’s so important to talk about what mothers are really facing, and how we can support them with care and compassion. How often do you check in on the mothers in your life?
The Stigma Moms Face Around Mental Health
Despite how common mental health challenges are among mothers, stigma continues to cast a long shadow. Many moms feel pressure to be “strong,” “selfless,” and “always grateful”—leaving no room to admit that they’re struggling.
This stigma can sound like:
- “Other moms are handling it, why can’t I?”
- “I have a healthy baby, I should be happy.”
- “I feel guilty for sometimes missing my old life.”
- “If I speak up, they’ll think I’m not a good mom.”
This silence and guardedness can keep moms from reaching out until things feel unbearable. But just because these thoughts are common doesn’t mean they’re true.
Mental health challenges don\’t make you a bad mom—they make you human. And getting support is one of the most loving things you can do for yourself and your family.
The Reality of Mom Mental Health in Canada
According to Statistics Canada, nearly 25% of new mothers report symptoms consistent with postpartum depression or anxiety. But struggles with mental health aren\’t limited to the early days after birth. Canadian moms across all stages of parenting experience heightened stress, burnout, and emotional overwhelm.
In a 2022 Canadian Women’s Foundation study, 48% of mothers said their mental health had declined since becoming parents. For single mothers, mothers of neurodivergent children, or those without extended support systems, these numbers can be even higher.
What Moms Are Up Against
Today’s moms are carrying more than ever before. Many are juggling the demands of full-time work, parenting responsibilities, and household management all while trying to maintain relationships and find time for themselves. In dual-income households, the pressure doesn’t ease, it often multiplies, with both parents working while moms still take on the bulk of the emotional and logistical load at home. Whether it’s coordinating daycare drop-offs, laundry, staying up late to finish work, or managing a child’s emotional needs while navigating their own stress, the invisible workload is constant. These overlapping responsibilities can leave mothers feeling exhausted, unseen, overwhelmed, and unsupported, making it difficult to prioritize their own mental health.
Moms are also navigating:
- Sleep deprivation – Which affects emotional regulation, memory, and patience
- Constant multitasking – Rarely having a moment to themselves
- Pressure to be perfect – Fueled by social media and societal expectations
- Hormonal shifts – Especially during postpartum, perimenopause, or fertility treatment
- The mental load – Remembering every appointment, lunchbox, and school form
- Loneliness – From losing connection to peers or adult conversation
- Loss of self – Mourning a former identity or sense of freedom
- Guilt and shame – For needing space, help, or feeling depleted
- Relationship tension – As parenting can highlight differences in priorities and communication
- Financial stress – Especially when maternity leave, child care, or unpaid labour come into play
If there’s a mom in your life who seems overwhelmed, withdrawn, or just not like herself—start the conversation. Reach out with compassion, not solutions. A simple “How are you, really?” can open the door to connection and relief.
We all have a role to play in normalizing support for mothers. Whether it’s offering to help with childcare, sharing your own experiences, or encouraging someone to talk to a professional, these small actions matter. Remind the moms you love that they don’t have to be everything for everyone and it’s okay to ask for help.
When to Seek Support
You don’t need to wait for a crisis to ask for help. Therapy can be a proactive step to protect your well-being before things spiral. But if you’re experiencing any of the following, support may be especially important:
1. Emotional Changes That Persist
- You feel sad most days even when “nothing is wrong”
- You cry more often and feel more irritable or anxious
- Small things feel unmanageable or send you into panic mode
2. Disconnection from Yourself or Others
- You feel emotionally numb or checked out
- You\’re struggling to bond with your baby or feel distant from your partner
- You’ve lost interest in things that used to bring you joy
3. Overwhelming Worry or Intrusive Thoughts
- You’re constantly worried something bad will happen
- You\’re plagued by “what if” thoughts that don’t go away
- You’re having thoughts that scare you or don’t feel like your own
4. Changes in Sleep or Appetite
- Trouble falling or staying asleep (even when the baby sleeps)
- Sleeping excessively to avoid your feelings and struggling to get out of bed
- Loss of appetite or emotional eating
5. Difficulty Coping with Daily Life
- You feel like you’re barely holding it together
- You’re snapping at loved ones or withdrawing from them
- You feel like you\’re failing no matter how hard you\’re trying
6. Thoughts of Self-Harm or Hopelessness
- You’re feeling like a burden or like your family would be better off without you
- You’re having thoughts of hurting yourself or feel unsafe in your own mind
Support can come from many places: a friend, a partner, a family member, a community group or a trained therapist. No one should have to navigate motherhood in isolation. Let’s keep breaking the silence and ending the stigma.
How The Relationship Centre Helps: Compassionate, Human-First Care
At The Relationship Centre, we believe in compassionate, human-first care. That means seeing you not just as a mother, but as a whole person with emotions, needs, and a life that matters outside of your roles.
We offer a variety of therapeutic services including:
Individual Therapy
A safe, supportive space to talk openly, process your emotions, rediscover your identity, and build sustainable tools for managing stress, anxiety, and emotional overload.
Couples Therapy
We support parenting partnerships through the ups and downs, helping couples strengthen communication, rebuild emotional connection, and navigate changes as a team.
Family Therapy
We work with families to address emotional tension, behavioural challenges, and better understand the evolving needs of each family member.
Postpartum Support
Specialized care for mothers facing postpartum depression or anxiety. We offer group programs to help moms build support networks in their community and understand they are not alone. A safe space where you can vent and don’t have to pretend everything is okay.
Affordable Therapy Options
We offer therapy with Qualifying Interns and Associate Therapists at lower rates because access to mental health support should never be out of reach.
How You Can Take the First Step
If you’ve been wondering whether what you’re feeling is “normal” or if you should just keep pushing through, it’s okay to pause and ask for help.
Taking the first step doesn’t have to mean making a big commitment. It can look like:
- Reaching out for a free consultation with our client care coordinator to talk through what you’re going through
- Asking questions about the support available without pressure to decide right away
- Talking to someone who will listen without judgment
- Letting yourself be seen, heard, and supported
You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to be open to the conversation.
Moms Deserve Care Too
If you’re a mother struggling in silence, please know this:
You are not alone. This is not your fault. And with help you will be well and feel like yourself again.
You don’t have to do this by yourself.
Reach out today. The care you deserve is just one step away.
