As National Pregnancy Week runs from 3-7 February, the South African Society of Psychiatrists (Sasop) is calling on healthcare providers and expectant mothers to treat perinatal mental health symptoms in pregnancy as urgent medical issues. The society says between 16% and 50% of women in South Africa experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy. It adds that up to one in 10 may be at high risk of suicide.
Sasop’s core message is simple. Do not ignore symptoms. And do not stop psychiatric medication without medical advice. The organisation warns that untreated illness can harm both mother and baby. It can also create long-term costs for families, employers, and the health system.
Sasop estimates that the lifetime cost of untreated maternal depression and anxiety in South Africa is about R42bn. It argues that early detection and treatment reduce harm and save lives. The group also stresses that outcomes are not fixed. With timely care, many serious consequences can be prevented.
Perinatal Mental Health: The Hidden Risk During Pregnancy
Sasop member and psychiatrist Dr Jessica Stanbridge says mental illness in pregnancy is common, real, and treatable. She warns that stopping medication suddenly can destabilise a patient. That can place both mother and baby at risk.
Sasop highlights that untreated depression and anxiety affect more than mood. They can reduce physical well-being. They can also undermine a woman’s ability to care for herself. That includes eating well, resting, attending antenatal visits, and preparing for birth.
The society points to evidence that untreated perinatal mental illness can increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. It may also affect infant growth and development. Bonding can become harder after birth. Severe postnatal depression and relapse are also more likely. In the most serious cases, self-harm or suicide can occur. Sasop notes that, in rare but devastating cases, harm to the baby may also happen.
Medication Decisions Need Evidence-Based Care
Many pregnant women fear medication will harm their baby. Sasop urges clinicians to address this fear directly. Stanbridge says risks must be weighed carefully. The dangers of untreated illness are also real. She adds that most antidepressants are generally considered safe in pregnancy when prescribed and monitored appropriately.
For women with moderate to severe symptoms, Sasop says medication is often necessary. It should be paired with counselling and social support where possible. For patients with severe mental illness, staying on treatment can be protective. Stanbridge says it can reduce the risk of postnatal relapse by as much as two-thirds.
Sasop’s message to patients is direct. Medication is not a failure. It can be one of the tools that helps a mother stay well and keep her baby safe. And for the healthcare sector, perinatal mental health in SA is a priority that cannot wait.
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