Authored by Ishmeet Singh, CEO & Sr. Vice President, Digital Bharat Collaborative

In a quiet village in Assam, where access to quality healthcare can often be a challenge and mental health is rarely discussed, a compassionate voice on the other end of a phone call can make all the difference. Meera, a first-time mother navigating a high-risk pregnancy, received support from a counselling officer through the SARATHI 104 Helpline. Isolated and anxious, she found in that voice not just information, but comfort, clarity, and care. That helpline became a lifeline.

Meera’s story is one of thousands that reflect a more profound truth: that the emotional health of mothers is just as vital as their physical well-being. And yet, across India, this critical dimension of maternal mental health is too often overlooked. 

A study by the World Health Organization revealed that the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in India stands at approximately 22% (though the actual rate might be higher due to underreporting), with only a fraction receiving any form of support or care. The effects ripple far beyond the individual, impacting newborn development, family stability, and long-term health outcomes. 

The Invisible Layer: Maternal Mental Health

At the Piramal Foundation, we believe that mental well-being is an integral part of maternal health, as part of our vision to Build Bharat. For us, it starts with empathy and continues with building trust.

Motherhood often comes with hidden costs, especially for women in informal sectors or geographically remote areas. While landmark schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) have expanded access to institutional delivery, nutritional support, and financial protection, one crucial dimension remains under-integrated: mental health.

Research globally and in India shows that anxiety, depression, and emotional fatigue are strongly linked to physical complications such as preterm birth, poor nutrition, and reduced postnatal care. India also faces a “motherhood penalty”- a persistent drop in earnings and employment opportunities post-childbirth, which compounds the stress and isolation new mothers experience.

Mental Health as the Foundational Pillar

To address these concerns, it is vital to reframe maternal mental health not as a secondary concern, but as a foundational pillar of maternal well-being and to build systems that reflect this reality. Imagine a future where every mother, from urban centers to rural hamlets, receives not just an ultrasound but a mental health check-in as part of standard care. Where our ASHA workers and other Frontline Health Workers are equipped to ask, “How are you feeling?”- and also have the knowledge to address issues. 

At Digital Bharat Collaborative (a part of Piramal Foundation), we are committed to realizing this future. We work at the grassroots level, partnering with governments and other stakeholders to deliver comprehensive services that cater to Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RMNCH). 

Our Health Information Helpline provides remote access to both medical and psychological counselling, ensuring that even women in the most isolated geographies have access to trained counsellors who can listen to them, offer advice, and take action. Our Xushrukha program in Kamrup rural, Assam offers counselling and emotional support to women with high-risk pregnancies. The progress has been encouraging – 64,661 women of reproductive age have been assessed for risk factors, with 30,689 confirmed as HRPs – presenting a critical opportunity to incorporate mental health screenings during these evaluations.

In addition to integrating medical and psychological support through telemedicine and health helplines, we are also building the capacities of our frontline workers to identify emotional distress early, not only through clinical indicators but also through the power of human connection. This will go a long way in ensuring that no mother in distress falls through the cracks.

All these efforts converge into a shared goal: to integrate physical and mental health into a seamless Continuum of Care, especially at the last mile, where such support is often inadequate.

Embedding Mental Health into RMNCH 

Global organisations like UNICEF remind us that the first 1,000 days- from conception to a child’s second birthday- are critical for long-term development. A mother’s mental health during this window is formative. 

This calls for embedding mental health into national RMNCH guidelines, creating safe spaces- digital, clinical, and community-based- for women to seek help, and investing in scalable telehealth innovations in challenging geographies.

Strides in the Right Direction

It is heartening to note that the recently announced $500 million maternal and newborn health fund (Beginners Fund) for Sub-Saharan Africa, led by the Gates Foundation, reinforces the importance of emotional and early childhood care as pillars of development. Closer to home, the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has piloted postnatal depression screenings within public hospitals, linking women to mental health specialists when needed. These examples demonstrate what is possible: mental health systems that are responsive, routine, and rooted in dignity.

India stands at a unique inflection point. The building blocks already exist, as does the understanding that transformation cannot happen in silos. The need of the hour is convergence – across ministries, between digital and physical systems, and among decision-makers and philanthropic agencies.  This year’s theme, “Your Voice, Your Strength,” reinforces our mission of breaking the silence surrounding maternal mental health. 

When we care enough to ensure that a mother’s overall well-being is managed well, it is no longer about one life. It is about moving closer to becoming Viksit Bharat, a Bharat whose people are healthy in a land where hope shines like a beacon in every heart. When we support mothers holistically, we build a healthier Bharat for generations to come.

#digitalbharatcollaborative #RMNCH