Maternal Suicide Awareness Month
Key Dates
September
Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month and Maternal Suicide Awareness Month
The First Week of September
Maternal Suicide Awareness Week – social media awareness activities are encouraged
History of Maternal Suicide Awareness Week and Remembrance Vigil
2020 Mom launched Maternal Suicide Awareness Week in 2018 during National Suicide Prevention month to raise awareness about maternal suicide, a leading cause of maternal mortality, through social media posts with maternal health partners.
During this time, 2020 Mom hosts the remembrance candlelight vigil with families impacted by maternal suicide to say the names of mothers lost.
2020 Mom’s ultimate goal is to drive action in improving reporting of maternal suicide rates in the U.S. and in the implementation of programs to prevent maternal suicide.
Maternal Suicide Awareness Week Social Media Awareness Campaign
September 4-10, 2022
During Maternal Suicide Awareness Week 2022, many people shared social media posts to help raise awareness using the following hashtags:
#MomsAreNotImmune
#KnowMomFacts (when sharing stats/research)
#MaternalSuicideAwareness
Maternal Suicide Facts & Graphics
Fact Sheet
Suicide is a preventable public health problem and a leading cause of maternal death in the United States.
Social Media Campaign Memes
Here are some of the campaign images used to raise awareness about Maternal Suicide. More images can be found here.
#MomsAreNotImmune Maternal Suicide Vigil
On Wednesday, September 7th, 2022, 2020 Mom hosted a candlelight vigil to remember and honor all the mothers lost to maternal suicide and honored on the Remembrance Wall. The vigil was hosted by Joy Burkhard ( 2020 Mom), Birdie Gunyon Meyer (Postpartum Support International), and Steven D’Achilles (Alexis Joy D’Achilles Foundation for Postpartum Depression). Watch the Vigil.
Maternal Suicide Awareness Webinar
with the CDC
with the CDC
On Wednesday, September 28th, 2020 Mom hosted a webinar on maternal suicide. Maternal suicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality. With efforts made by the policy organization, 2020 Mom, and the CDC, the U.S. has made significant progress on tracking and reporting maternal suicide rates. However, the work to identify maternal suicides is left to the states through reviews conducted in Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) settings. State-based Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs) are generally charged with facilitating change based on MMRC findings.
This webinar covered:
A general overview of maternal suicide statistics in the US
Updated data from the CDC on Maternal Mortality Review Committees and pregnancy-related suicide deaths
How states are improving suicide detection in their MMRC process, including the role of informant interviews in identifying maternal suicide deaths, a process adopted by the Delaware MMRC and others
Colorado’s latest report illustrates suicide is the top cause of maternal death, and efforts the PQC is championing
Remaining challenges and opportunities
Learn More About Maternal Suicide & Find Resources
Resources for those working to advance maternal suicide prevention and support are available here.
Past Maternal Suicide Social Media Awareness Campaigns:
Maternal Suicide Awareness Week Social Media Awareness Campaign
#MomsAreNotImmune
Maternal Suicide Vigil
Maternal Suicide Awareness Webinar with the CDC
