Across the UK and Europe, mothers are reporting something that feels both deeply personal and unmistakably collective: a level of mental burden that has become unsustainable.
A large Europe-wide study conducted by Make Mothers Matter and presented at London School of Economics found that 67% of mothers feel mentally overloaded, with more than half experiencing mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, or burnout. In the UK, that figure rises to 71%, meaning that seven out of ten mothers report feeling overwhelmed by the demands they carry.
This research, based on responses from 9,600 mothers across 11 EU countries and the UK, confirms what many women have been expressing for years: the mental load of motherhood is not a niche issue, nor a personal failing. It is a systemic problem.
What “Mental Overload” Really Means for Mothers
Mental overload goes far beyond feeling busy or tired. It refers to the constant cognitive and emotional labour involved in managing daily life — much of which remains invisible.
For many mothers, this includes:
- Anticipating and managing children’s emotional needs
- Holding responsibility for appointments, routines, and household logistics
- Navigating broken sleep and physical recovery
- Returning to work while adapting to a changed identity
- Absorbing instability or subtle discrimination in the workplace
- Carrying the emotional weight of “keeping everything together”
While nearly three-quarters of mothers in the study were in paid employment, only 27% had access to remote or flexible working options. At the same time, one in four fathers took no paternity leave, despite being entitled to it.
The result is not simply stress, but chronic overload — a state where the nervous system rarely gets to stand down.
When Support Drops Away at the Moment It’s Needed Most
Pregnancy, birth and early parenthood are recognised pressure points for mental health. Yet many mothers report that support becomes fragmented, underfunded, or difficult to access once routine medical care ends.
Coverage by The Guardian highlights a recurring theme: just as mothers face the emotional reality of caring for a baby, returning to work, and redefining themselves, professional support often tapers off.
This creates a dangerous gap — one where women are expected to cope privately with public-level pressures.
This Is Not About Resilience — It’s About Systems
The narrative that mothers simply need to be “more resilient” is both misleading and harmful.
Overwhelm does not indicate fragility. It reflects:
- Systems not designed around caregiving realities
- Work structures that assume uninterrupted availability
- Cultural pressure to “bounce back” physically and emotionally
- Gendered expectations around responsibility and emotional labour
Many mothers describe returning to work only to find that the role they left no longer exists, that stability has vanished, or that their value has subtly shifted. These experiences do not just create stress — they erode safety, confidence, and identity.
Motherhood does not reduce capability.
It exposes how conditional support often is.
The Mental Health Impact of Ongoing Overload
When mental overload becomes chronic, it can lead to:
- Anxiety and persistent worry
- Low mood or depression
- Burnout and emotional exhaustion
- Sleep disturbance
- Loss of confidence or sense of self
- Relationship strain
- Guilt, shame, or self-criticism
Because many of these symptoms develop gradually, mothers may normalise them or dismiss them as “just part of being a mum,” delaying support until distress becomes severe.
This is why experts are increasingly calling for routine mental health check-ins for mothers, not only during pregnancy but throughout early parenthood and beyond.
How Counselling Can Support Mothers Experiencing Mental Burden
Counselling offers something many mothers rarely receive: a space that does not require them to cope, perform, or hold it together.
Therapeutic support can help mothers:
- Make sense of overwhelm without minimising it
- Process identity shifts linked to pregnancy, birth, and caregiving
- Address anxiety, depression, or burnout safely
- Reduce shame and self-blame
- Rebuild emotional regulation and self-trust
- Explore boundaries around work, care, and expectations
- Move out of survival mode into something more sustainable
Importantly, counselling is not about “fixing” mothers. It recognises that distress often arises from long-term pressure, not personal inadequacy.
Support can be accessed in different ways, including:
- In-person sessions
- Online counselling
- Telephone therapy
Early support can prevent difficulties from becoming entrenched and help mothers feel less alone in what they are carrying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to feel overwhelmed as a mother?
Feeling overwhelmed is common under current social and economic conditions. However, common does not mean inevitable or something mothers should simply endure without support.
How do I know if I need counselling?
If feelings of exhaustion, anxiety, low mood, or emotional numbness are persistent, impacting daily life or relationships, counselling can help — even if you are still “functioning.”
Is maternal mental health only about the postnatal period?
No. Mental health challenges can arise during pregnancy, early parenthood, returning to work, or later transitions. Support is relevant at every stage.
What if my difficulties are caused by work or lack of support, not my mental health?
Counselling helps you process the emotional impact of external pressures, reduce self-blame, and regain agency — even when systems remain imperfect.
I feel guilty struggling when I love my children. Is that normal?
Yes. Love and overwhelm can coexist. Counselling provides space for these conflicting emotions without judgement.