30th April 2025
Motherhood is often portrayed as one of the most beautiful periods in a woman’s life, but thousands of women in Lithuania face emotional challenges after giving birth – challenges that are still rarely discussed. Although attitudes toward postpartum depression in the country are slowly changing, unrealistic expectations are often placed on mothers, depression is dismissed as sadness or fatigue, and statistical data may not reflect the full reality. The Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson is calling for a deeper look and is proposing measures to improve support.
The Situation in Lithuania: Emotional Challenges After Childbirth Still Go Unseen
Postpartum depression remains underdiagnosed in Lithuania. Official data shows that in 2022, only 41 women were diagnosed with postpartum depression. Together with additional diagnoses of general depression – 152 women over the course of the year.
“These numbers raise concerns, especially considering that there were 21 753 births in the country that same year. It’s likely the real situation isn’t fully captured in the statistics,” says Rūta Juodelytė, an expert at the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson.
According to her, the reality is likely much more complex. A 2019 – 2020 survey of nearly 2700 women who gave birth during that time revealed that 20,5 % experienced significant symptoms of postpartum depression, and 22 % showed signs of post-traumatic stress. About 3 % continued to suffer from PTSD symptoms even two years after childbirth.
As of July 1, 2024, a new order by the Minister of Health mandates that family doctors assess the emotional well-being of pregnant and postpartum women using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). “This is a positive development. Both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Security and Labour are expanding services and improving prevention, care, and intervention systems. But there’s still room for improvement,” says R. Juodelytė.
Rūta Juodelytė. M. Ambrazas photo
Mother and Baby Units – A Dignified Model of Support
The Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson is proposing a significant step forward: the creation of Mother and Baby Units in psychiatric hospitals. These would be specialized inpatient facilities where women experiencing postpartum depression or other mental health disorders could receive care without being separated from their infants.
R. Juodelytė emphasizes that supporting mothers is an essential part of gender equality policy: “At first glance, psychiatric services appear equally accessible to both men and women. But equal opportunity isn’t one-size-fits-all – it means meeting people where they are. Only then can care be truly fair and inclusive”.
Currently in Lithuania, if a mother requires inpatient treatment for postpartum depression, she is usually separated from her baby – an experience that causes additional stress and may hinder recovery.
Mother and Baby Units would not only ensure appropriate medical care but also help maintain the mother-infant bond, support emotional stability, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health conditions. This initiative could help shift the systemic approach to women’s emotional health after childbirth.
The effectiveness of such specialized units is backed by numerous studies. Researchers in the UK reviewed 23 studies and found that treatment in these units, where mothers are not separated from their babies, significantly improves maternal mental health and strengthens the mother-child bond. Importantly, these studies also found no negative impact on child development.
International Models: What Can Lithuania Learn from Leading Countries?
This model is already working successfully in various parts of the world. In the UK, Australia, and the Netherlands, Mother and Baby Units in psychiatric facilities allow women to receive comprehensive care without disrupting the mother-child bond.
In the Netherlands, every new mother is visited at home by a dedicated nurse who provides up to 80 hours of care during the first few days after birth. The nurse monitors both physical and psychological well-being and helps identify early signs of postpartum depression. A similar model is expected to be introduced across Lithuanian municipalities from May this year. However, in Lithuania, priority for such home-based services will be given to socially vulnerable families.
In Australia, since 2018, national guidelines ensure that every pregnant and postpartum woman is screened using psychosocial questionnaires, and family members are actively involved in the care process. Australia also offers the option for mothers to be treated alongside their babies when necessary for the mother’s recovery and the child’s well-being. The Australian model acknowledges that recovery is shaped not only by medication or therapy but also by the emotional environment at home—emphasizing the importance of involving the whole family.