A community story from Maharashtra
When a mother is cared for, a whole village grows stronger.
About 22% of mothers in India experience postpartum depression.[1] Asking every mother how she feels helps find them early. Saath builds this into routine care: ASHAs check in at home, primary health centres screen and counsel, and families share the load. India’s free Tele-MANAS helpline (14416) has handled over 23.8 lakh calls since 2022.[4]
Who we are
Who supports mothers in the community?
Mothers are supported by four groups working together: ASHAs who visit homes, ANMs and Medical Officers at primary health centres, district specialists who take referrals, and families and women’s groups who help at home.
ASHAs: the first door
Accredited Social Health Activists visit homes, notice when a mother is struggling and walk with her to care.
- Home visits through pregnancy and the first year
- Simple mood check-ins built into routine visits
- Trained to listen without judgement
Primary health centres
Medical Officers and ANMs screen, counsel and refer, so help is available close to home.
- Screening during antenatal and postnatal visits
- Low-intensity counselling on site
- Referral to district specialists when needed
Families and communities
Husbands, mothers-in-law and women’s groups share the load so new mothers can rest and recover.
- Family sessions on support at home
- Mother support circles in villages
- Gram sabha conversations that reduce stigma
What we do
What does Saath do for mothers and children?
Saath combines mental and physical health care for mothers and children, from pregnancy through early childhood, following the WHO approach of building mental health care into routine maternal and child health services.[3]
Perinatal mental health
Screening and counselling for depression and anxiety during pregnancy and after birth.
- Mood screening built into antenatal and postnatal visits
- Stepped care: counselling first, specialist referral if needed
- Follow-up until the mother is doing well
Healthy starts for children
Growth monitoring, nutrition counselling and early checks for long-term conditions in childhood.
- Growth and development tracking
- Feeding and nutrition guidance for families
- Early screening for childhood non-communicable diseases
Adolescent wellbeing
Safe spaces for young people to talk about stress, relationships and the future.
- School and community sessions
- Peer educators trained in basic support
- Clear paths to counselling services
The journey
What does a mother’s care journey look like?
A typical journey runs from early pregnancy registration, through mood screening and counselling, to a safe birth, a repeat check at six weeks, and a thriving child at one year. Sunita’s story below is a composite drawn from many women.
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Month 3: Registered early
Her ASHA registers the pregnancy and books the first antenatal visit at the primary health centre.
Early registration makes four or more antenatal check-ups possible.
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Month 5: A quiet worry is noticed
At the antenatal visit, a short mood screen shows Sunita has not been sleeping and feels alone.
Short screening questionnaires such as the PHQ-9 or EPDS take a few minutes and can be used by trained frontline staff.[3]
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Month 6: Someone listens
Weekly counselling at the primary health centre helps her name the worry and plan small changes.
Psychological support delivered by trained non-specialist workers is part of the WHO approach to perinatal care.[3]
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Birth: A safe delivery
After a family session, her husband and mother-in-law are ready to share night feeds and chores.
Family involvement is one of the strongest supports for a new mother’s recovery.
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Week 6: Checked again
At the postnatal visit her mood screen is repeated. She is smiling, and so is the nurse.
Postnatal screening catches problems that begin after birth.
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Year 1: A thriving daughter
Meera is growing well and fully immunised, and Sunita now hosts the village mothers’ circle.
Mothers who were supported often go on to support others.
Tap a step to mark it as reached.
Impact
Why does maternal mental health care matter?
About 22% of mothers in India experience postpartum depression, based on 38 studies of 20,043 women.[1] In developing countries, 15.6% of pregnant women and 19.8% of women who have just given birth have a mental disorder, mainly depression.[2]
| Indicator | Figure | Population or scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postpartum depression, India (pooled) | 22% (95% CI 19–25%) | 38 studies, 20,043 women | [1] |
| Mental disorder during pregnancy, worldwide | about 10% | Pregnant women | [2] |
| Mental disorder after birth, worldwide | about 13% | Women who have just given birth | [2] |
| Mental disorder during pregnancy, developing countries | 15.6% | Pregnant women | [2] |
| Mental disorder after birth, developing countries | 19.8% | Women who have just given birth | [2] |
| Tele-MANAS calls handled since launch (10 Oct 2022) | over 23.8 lakh | 53 cells, 36 states and UTs, up to 20 languages | [4] |
I thought feeling this sad was just part of being pregnant. My ASHA didi told me it was not my fault, and that help was nearby.
Now when I visit a home, I ask how the mother is feeling, not only how the baby is growing.
Mothers feel seen
Women describe being asked about their feelings for the first time during a health visit.
- Stigma falls when care is routine
- Families learn the signs to look for
Stronger primary care
Primary health centres gain skills and simple tools that stay in the system after training ends.
- Screening built into existing registers
- Referral pathways agreed with district teams
Communities take the lead
Village groups organise their own mothers’ circles and awareness days.
- Local champions sustain the work
- Ideas spread from village to village
Take action
What small actions can you take today?
Pick a few of these six everyday actions, tick them off as you go, and add your own. Your list is saved in this browser.
- Family
- Family
- Community
- Community
- Learn
- Health
Questions people ask
What do people ask about maternal mental health?
What is perinatal mental health?
Perinatal mental health is a mother’s emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and the first year after birth. It covers conditions such as depression and anxiety, which are common, treatable and nobody’s fault.
How common is postpartum depression in India?
About 22% of mothers in India experience postpartum depression, according to a 2017 meta-analysis of 38 studies covering 20,043 women published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.[1]
How common are mental health problems during and after pregnancy worldwide?
According to the World Health Organization, about 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth have a mental disorder, mainly depression. In developing countries the figures are 15.6% during pregnancy and 19.8% after childbirth.[2]
Who provides care in the Saath approach?
Care is shared by ASHAs who visit homes, ANMs and Medical Officers at primary health centres who screen and counsel, district specialists who take referrals, and families and women’s groups who support mothers at home.
How are mothers screened for depression?
Trained frontline staff use short questionnaires such as the PHQ-9 or EPDS during antenatal and postnatal visits. A screen takes a few minutes and helps decide whether a mother needs counselling or a specialist referral.[3]
Where can someone in India get mental health support right now?
Tele-MANAS, India’s national tele mental health helpline, is free and available at 14416 or 1-800-891-4416. It has handled over 23.8 lakh calls since its launch on 10 October 2022 and offers support in up to 20 languages.[4][5]
What small actions can I take to support mothers?
Ask a pregnant or new mother how she is really feeling, offer practical help so she can rest, thank your local ASHA, share the Tele-MANAS number, and encourage postnatal check-ups.
Which sources is this page based on?
- Upadhyay, R. P., Chowdhury, R., Salehi, A., Sarkar, K., Singh, S. K., Sinha, B., Pawar, A., Rajalakshmi, A. K., & Kumar, A. (2017). Postpartum depression in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 95(10), 706–717. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5689195/
- World Health Organization. (n.d.). Maternal mental health. https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/promotion-prevention/maternal-mental-health
- World Health Organization. (2022). WHO guide for integration of perinatal mental health in maternal and child health services. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240057142
- Punjab Kesari. (2025, July 27). Tele-MANAS mental health helpline handles over 23.8 lakh calls since 2022 [Report of a written reply by the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare in the Rajya Sabha]. https://english.punjabkesari.com/india/2025/07/27/tele-manas-mental-health-helpline-handles-over-238-lakh-calls-since-2022-prataprao-jadhav
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. (n.d.). Tele-MANAS: National Tele Mental Health Programme. https://telemanas.mohfw.gov.in/