Mental health disorders are the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in Illinois and nationwide, accounting for 34% of such deaths in the November 2025 Illinois Department of Public Health report. According to CDC data released in April 2026, mental health conditions accounted for 27.7% of pregnancy-related deaths between 2017 and 2022. Unlike some pregnancy complications that cannot be prevented, many of these deaths are preventable through early screening and treatment.
Amanda Wilkinson, founder of Weeding the Garden, an Edwardsville-based peer support practice for perinatal mood disorders, emphasizes the urgency of recognizing warning signs. Postpartum depression is distinct from the baby blues, which typically resolve within two weeks of delivery. Postpartum depression is more intense, requires treatment, and can occur up to one year after birth, with symptoms including overwhelming sadness, panic, hopelessness, and intrusive thoughts about harming oneself or the baby.
New or expectant mothers may experience multiple mood and trauma disorders during the perinatal period, which includes pregnancy and up to one year after birth. These include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and in rare cases, postpartum psychosis. According to an article in the March 2024 American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 6.6 million mothers and 1.7 million fathers and co-parents are affected by childbirth-related PTSD worldwide each year.
Early warning signs include lack of sleep, mood swings, feelings of rage, and behaviors not previously noticed. Wilkinson stresses that lack of sleep can be particularly significant, as very little or no sleep can be one of the first signs of a psychosis situation. Those experiencing a mental health crisis can reach out to 988, which offers 24/7 judgment-free support for mental health, substance use, and related concerns.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.theintelligencer.com/news/article/illinois-maternal-deaths-mental-health-22282878.php