“When we become a mother, happiness is expected of us, not tears”. This sentence pronounced by Mahalia Coujitou, young mother and founder of the association Otea probably speaks to all new moms on the verge of exhaustion. Because in 2025, unfortunately, postpartum depression is still too taboo.
A persistent taboo around motherhood
This feeling, shared by many mothers, is at the heart of a national survey carried out by Toluna Harris Interactive for Biogen, in partnership with Maman Blues, the National Union of Midwives (ONSSF) and the Collectif Femmes de Santé. The results, published in June 2025, reveal an alarming finding: nearly eight in ten women (79%) say they would not dare talk to their loved ones about their postpartum depression.
And this silence is not insignificant. It delays the detection and treatment of a disease that is still largely unknown, even though it affects one in six mothers in the two months following childbirth.
An underdiagnosed disease, sometimes with tragic consequences
Postpartum depression is more than just sadness after birth. It can lead to profound isolation, loss of interest in the baby, sleep or appetite problems, or even, in the most serious cases, suicidal thoughts. In France, the observation is chilling: suicide has become the leading cause of maternal mortality up to one year after birth, causing one death every three weeks.
For child psychiatrist Anne-Laure Sutter-Dallay, professor of perinatal psychiatry at the University of Bordeaux, lack of knowledge of the subject aggravates the situation: “While yoga or meditation can help, they never replace appropriate medical, psychological and social support. Protecting a mother’s mental health means protecting that of the baby and the entire family.”
Received ideas still well anchored
The survey also reveals a great deal of confusion between the baby blues, this temporary depression which affects nearly 70% of young mothers, and postpartum depression, a more serious and lasting disorder. Which too often leads to a minimization of maternal suffering. Six out of ten French people admit to not knowing the difference between the two.
“Midwives are often the first to hear the silences, to perceive the discreet signals of mothers’ distress. explains Caroline Combot, liberal midwife and president of the ONSSF. “Strengthening our presence throughout the parenthood journey is essential to better detect and support.”
Many women also remain convinced that healing comes first and foremost through well-being practices. However, without professional follow-up, the risk is to let the disease take hold over time. And above all, the subject remains very little discussed during maternity: 78% of mothers concerned say that postpartum depression is never discussed during consultations related to pregnancy and childbirth.
A reality that raises questions, when these medical appointments should be key moments to inform, prevent and identify the first signs of psychological distress.
Breaking the silence, a public health emergency
Faced with these figures, players in the sector are calling for national mobilization. And their proposals are clear:
- Break taboos through information and awareness campaigns;
- Strengthen prevention and screening during pregnancy;
- Facilitate access to care throughout the territory, by mobilizing midwives, general practitioners and pediatricians;
“Postpartum depression is not inevitable, recalls Marina Vasiliou, president of Biogen France. As long as it remains invisible, young mothers will continue to go through one of the most vulnerable times of their lives without adequate support.”
“Breaking the taboo of postpartum depression means recognizing that all parents have the right to be understood and supported, without guilt or loneliness”adds Élise Marcende, president of the association Mom Blues.
Baby blues or postpartum depression? How to tell the difference
And you, do you know the difference? Still too often confused, these two realities do not have the same intensity nor the same duration.
- The baby blues is a transient emotional reaction: it occurs in the days following childbirth and disappears spontaneously in less than a week. It is explained by hormonal variations, fatigue and the emotional shock of motherhood;
- Postpartum depression sets in for a long time. It often appears between two weeks and two months after birth, and can last for several months if not treated.
“The real difference between the two is temporalityexplained Dr. Odile Bagot, gynecologist. If the sadness becomes entrenched over time, if it prevents the mother from taking care of herself or her baby, we must consult.”
Speak to stop sinking
Breaking the silence around postpartum depression, whether with health professionals or loved ones, allows each mother to be heard, cared for and understood, without shame or guilt.
“We are often diagnosed between two months and a year after birth. However, the signs are often there well before. Early detection can save lives” indicated the expert. Because behind the forced smiles and birth photos sometimes hide invisible distress. Distresses that must be spoken out, and no longer silenced, to make things happen.