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Vanessa Rio: Just Because a Struggle Isn’t Clinical, It Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Need Support
Vanessa Rio/LinkedIn
Sep 12, 2026, 15:55

Vanessa Rio: Just Because a Struggle Isn’t Clinical, It Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Need Support

Vanessa Rio, Founder and Director of Mothering Minds, shared on LinkedIn։

“It’s official: we’re counting 20% more maternal deaths than the rate recorded in 2009–2011.

How on earth did we let this happen?

When the MBRRACE report came out, a quick scan confirmed so much of what we’ve been hearing and seeing from the mothers navigating the maternity system in the UK: it’s in tatters!

252 women died from direct and indirect causes during pregnancy or within six weeks of its end, marking a rate of 12.80 per 100,000 maternities.

Almost half of the women who died had a known mental health issue. Suicide is still the leading cause of death between 6 weeks and one year postpartum.

And yet – perinatal mental health is still treated like a side issue. ‘Out of scope’ for several high-profile enquiries and investigations published earlier this year. ‘Not our focus’ for so many areas of maternity service.

Let’s stop pushing the buck. Anyone – yes, that’s midwives, GPs, health visitors, but it’s also neighbours, lactation consultants, doulas, nannies, coworkers – anyone can help get these stats down.

Can observe the mothers they work with or see in day-to-day life, listen to them, ask questions. Encourage them to call pandas, or their GP. Can even swat up on a little maternal mental health 101, and have some phrases ready to make the conversation flow.

And if you’re a woman navigating this – remember that this system keeps missing you, physically and emotionally – so please speak up and don’t shut up until you have the help you need.

You don’t have to be sure you’ve got postnatal depression, anxiety, rage, OCD or any of the many other perinatal mental health issues that we are slowly becoming more aware of.

You can simply feel like something’s off. But just because a struggle isn’t clinical, it doesn’t mean you don’t need support.

Get the help you need from friends, family, and professionals. And if it turns out that you do have a mental health issue, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

So if there’s something that’s been coming up for you – worry loops you can’t shut off, intrusive thoughts that scare you, a strange flatness, or funny physical sensations – tell one person. You don’t need the right words, and you don’t need to lay it all out. A simple: ՛I don’t feel quite right՛ is enough – and if it isn’t for the first person you told, tell the next one – right until you’re heard.”

Stay informed with the latest updates in fertility and reproductive medicine on Fertility News.

Fertility Fertility News GP Maternal Deaths MBRRACE OBGYN Perinatal Mental Health postnatal depression reproductive health Reproductive Medicine Vanessa Rio Women’s Health
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