UK Mothers Overloaded: Survey Reveals High Stress and Career Impact
A new study has uncovered a troubling reality for mothers in the United Kingdom, with seven out of ten reporting feelings of being overloaded and almost half experiencing mental health challenges such as anxiety or depression. The research, conducted by the pan-European campaign group Make Mothers Matter, surveyed 800 mothers in each of twelve European countries, including the UK, Ireland, and several others across the continent.
Key Findings from the European Survey
The survey highlights several critical issues affecting maternal wellbeing in the UK. Specifically, 71% of UK mothers feel overloaded, which is 4% higher than the European average of 67%. Additionally, 47% of UK mothers suffer from mental health issues, including burnout, though this is slightly lower than the 50% average across Europe. Perhaps most concerning is that 31% of UK respondents felt motherhood had a negative effect on their career, surpassing the 27% European average, with Ireland reporting the highest at 36%.
Despite these challenges, the survey also noted some positive aspects. For instance, only 11% of UK mothers said their partner did not take paternity leave, which is significantly lower than the 25% average across the twelve countries. Furthermore, 32% in Britain felt their role is not recognised by society, compared to a higher European average of 41%.
Calls for Improved Support and Services
The grim findings have prompted urgent calls for enhanced support systems. Experts like Prof Alain Gregoire, a perinatal psychiatrist and honorary president of the Maternal Mental Alliance UK, emphasise that many mothers are suffering in silence due to stigma and insufficient resources. He points to the UK's relative lack of spending on services for young families compared to northern European nations as a key factor in the poor maternal wellbeing scores.
Angela McConville, chief executive of the NCT parenting charity, adds that women often face a fragmented postnatal care system that is underfunded and understaffed, leaving them isolated during critical times. She advocates for community-based peer support groups and more localised mental health services to address these gaps.
Broader European Trends and Government Response
Make Mothers Matter reports that mothers across Europe are experiencing higher levels of stress and emotional exhaustion today compared to a similar survey in 2011. This increase is attributed to economic insecurity, work-life imbalances, insufficient care infrastructures, and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In response, a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care highlighted ongoing efforts, including investments in mental health services, hiring additional mental health workers, and providing NHS talking therapies. However, the department did not directly address the specific findings of this survey.
