Seven out of Ten UK Mothers Feel Overwhelmed by Parenting Responsibilities, Report Reveals
A staggering seven in ten mothers in the UK feel overwhelmed by their parenting responsibilities, according to a recent survey. The pan-European campaign group Make Mothers Matter has highlighted that these mothers are more likely to struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, with almost half of them experiencing some form of distress.
The research, which surveyed 800 mothers across 12 European countries, also found that UK mothers were disproportionately burdened by household tasks and caregiving work alone. The UK ranked among the worst for motherhood in terms of career impact, with 31% of respondents feeling that their role was negatively affected.
This trend is not unique to the UK, however. Across Europe, mothers are experiencing increasingly high levels of stress, cognitive overload, and emotional exhaustion due to factors such as economic insecurity, persistent work-life imbalance, and insufficient care infrastructure.
Experts have called for greater support systems to be put in place, including easy access to "talking therapies" that offer psychological help for mothers. Prof Alain Gregoire, a perinatal psychiatrist, stated that despite improvements in NHS care in recent years, many mothers are still left "suffering in silence."
The UK's lack of spending on services to support young families and children between birth and five years old has been cited as a key factor contributing to the poor maternal wellbeing outcomes. Angela McConville, chief executive of the NCT parenting charity, emphasized the need for localized mental health support and regular touchpoints from healthcare providers.
In response to the findings, the Department of Health and Social Care has pledged to invest more in mental health services, including an additional £688m this year and 7,000 new mental health workers. However, critics argue that these measures are insufficient and fail to address the systemic issues driving maternal wellbeing outcomes.
As one expert noted, "Every mother deserves to feel supported when it comes to their mental health, and we are determined to ensure help is there when it's needed." Nevertheless, more needs to be done to address the overwhelming pressures faced by mothers across the UK.
A staggering seven in ten mothers in the UK feel overwhelmed by their parenting responsibilities, according to a recent survey. The pan-European campaign group Make Mothers Matter has highlighted that these mothers are more likely to struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, with almost half of them experiencing some form of distress.
The research, which surveyed 800 mothers across 12 European countries, also found that UK mothers were disproportionately burdened by household tasks and caregiving work alone. The UK ranked among the worst for motherhood in terms of career impact, with 31% of respondents feeling that their role was negatively affected.
This trend is not unique to the UK, however. Across Europe, mothers are experiencing increasingly high levels of stress, cognitive overload, and emotional exhaustion due to factors such as economic insecurity, persistent work-life imbalance, and insufficient care infrastructure.
Experts have called for greater support systems to be put in place, including easy access to "talking therapies" that offer psychological help for mothers. Prof Alain Gregoire, a perinatal psychiatrist, stated that despite improvements in NHS care in recent years, many mothers are still left "suffering in silence."
The UK's lack of spending on services to support young families and children between birth and five years old has been cited as a key factor contributing to the poor maternal wellbeing outcomes. Angela McConville, chief executive of the NCT parenting charity, emphasized the need for localized mental health support and regular touchpoints from healthcare providers.
In response to the findings, the Department of Health and Social Care has pledged to invest more in mental health services, including an additional £688m this year and 7,000 new mental health workers. However, critics argue that these measures are insufficient and fail to address the systemic issues driving maternal wellbeing outcomes.
As one expert noted, "Every mother deserves to feel supported when it comes to their mental health, and we are determined to ensure help is there when it's needed." Nevertheless, more needs to be done to address the overwhelming pressures faced by mothers across the UK.
. It's utterly unacceptable that 7 out of 10 moms are shouldering such a massive burden alone 
. The lack of support systems and inadequate mental health services is, in my opinion, a clear indicator of a systemic issue that needs to be addressed pronto 
. We need more than just token investments; we require tangible changes that prioritize maternal wellbeing 
. Easy access to talking therapies, childcare infrastructure, and a more balanced approach to work-life integration are non-negotiables 
. We must acknowledge that motherhood is not just a personal choice but also an essential public health concern 
. It's high time we recognize the disproportionate impact on mothers' mental health and take concrete steps to mitigate it 
.
Moms are literally killing themselves over here 
. And don't even get me started on work-life balance... it's a myth 
. We need more than just Band-Aid solutions, we need real systemic change 
I'm not surprised to hear that 7 out of 10 mums in the UK are feeling overwhelmed with parenting responsibilities. It's like they're expected to juggle a million things at once and no one's checking in on them. And what's up with the lack of support? 
They're already stressed, anxiety-ridden, and then you throw more pressure on them by not providing adequate care infrastructure? 
It's just not fair. We need to get our act together as a society and start supporting these incredible women instead of leaving them to suffer in silence 
. 7 out of 10? That's crazy! I mean, I know life can get tough sometimes, but it seems like we're not doing enough to help them out. Like, what's the point of having a service if you can't actually access it easily? 
And mental health stuff is super important too... we need to make sure those talking therapies are available and affordable for everyone.
. We need more than just empty promises, you know? More localized support, regular check-ins from healthcare providers... that sort of thing.
. They deserve some love and support too! It's not like we're going to solve this problem overnight, but we gotta start somewhere 
.
... I mean, I get it, being a mum can be tough, but 7 out of 10? That's crazy! 
... like easy access to talking therapies and regular check-ins from healthcare providers 
. It's not that hard to prioritize our mums' wellbeing, especially when it comes to their mental health 
. We should be doing more to help them feel supported and less alone 
mental health issues are no joke, and it's crazy that so many mums are expected to suffer in silence. 
1000+ mental health workers is a good start, but it's not the answer alone 
and seriously, where's the investment in childcare services? 
. It's crazy that even in 2025, we're still seeing this trend where moms are struggling so much with mental health issues and stress 
. I wish the gov was doing more to address these systemic issues 
.
My partner's always telling me I need to chill and prioritize self-care, but let's be real, who can afford that when you've got a house to keep and bills to pay? 
My friend's sister has been going through this and it's heartbreaking watching her struggle. We really do need to step up our game and make motherhood more sustainable for everyone.
. And honestly, 31% of people feeling that mom is negatively impacted on their career is a pretty big deal too 
.
especially when it comes to accessing "talking therapies" 
we need systemic changes that address these issues not just band aid solutions 
what do you think? 
. Every mum deserves to feel supported, and it's time we take action to make that happen 
. I mean, what can we do as a society to make this better? Can we implement more family-friendly policies? Increase funding for childcare and education? Or just be more understanding of the struggles that come with being a mom? 
. It's like we're not doing enough to support these amazing women who give so much of themselves for their families 
.
. The experts are right, we need more support systems in place - not just for mums but for the whole family 
. More 'talking therapies' can only help so much when you're struggling with something as complex as societal expectations