Untreated mental health issues in pregnant women and new mothers in Thailand represent an economic cost of an estimated 68 billion baht a year, with nearly half of the burden falling on children, a new report has found.
The report, launched on Thursday at a symposium held at Chulalongkorn University, found that untreated mental health conditions during pregnancy and after childbirth impose wide-ranging economic and social costs that extend far beyond healthcare, affecting productivity, long-term disability and child development.
Of the estimated annual economic burden, around 31 billion baht, or 45%, is linked to impacts on children, underscoring the long-term consequences of untreated maternal mental health conditions on the next generation.
Researchers said an estimated 200,000 women in Thailand experience symptoms of mental health problems during pregnancy and/or postpartum depression. In many cases these are driven by factors including poverty, domestic violence and inequality.
The study found that about one-third of mothers from low- and middle-income households are affected. It also highlighted impacts on child health and development.
Only 14% of mothers were found to successfully breastfeed, far below the World Health Organization’s target of 70%, while around 9,500 children each year experience below-standard height linked to maternal depression.
Dr Napat Sittanomai, a lecturer in child and adolescent psychiatry at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, said postpartum depression affects about 13.1% of mothers in Thailand and remains underdetected.
He said paediatricians could play a greater role in identifying maternal mental health concerns during routine well-baby visits, but in practice, consultations tend to focus on physical health and vaccinations rather than mental wellbeing.
Annette Bauer, an economist at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said mental illness can reduce gross domestic productivity by up to 2%, while government spending on mental healthcare remains limited.
She said untreated maternal mental health conditions contribute to poor child outcomes, including stunting, low birth weight and pre-term birth, all of which are strongly associated with poorer cognitive development.
Hamish Magoffin, founder of the PAM Foundation for perinatal mental health, said around one in five women globally experience postpartum depression, with rates in Thailand believed to be similar and reaching as high as one in three among high-risk groups.
“Behind every figure, every percentage, there is a story — not only the mother’s story, but also the baby’s, siblings’ and society’s,” he said. “The impact is wide-reaching and can last for decades and across generations.”
The report recommends a national strategy on perinatal mental health, more effective screening and referral systems, improved access to treatment for at-risk mothers, and stronger cooperation among stakeholders.
