Why Utah Moms Are Struggling: A Deeper Look at the Maternal Mental Health Crisis

Why Are Utah Moms Struggling More Than Anyone Else in the Nation?

When KUTV reported that Utah mothers rank highest in the country for poor mental health, I wasn’t surprised. Saddened? Yes. But surprised? No.

I am a therapist and doula who specializes in perinatal mental health and, as a mother who has lived through postpartum anxiety, I’ve seen firsthand how widespread this crisis really is. It’s happening in my office, our communities, and too often, it’s happening in silence.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, data from the Utah Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) shows that 63.3% of new Utah mothers report poor mental health - far above the national average. These findings mirror the crisis I see playing out in my practice: mothers feeling overwhelmed, alone, and unsure whether their experience is “normal.”

But here’s what I find even more troubling: most public resources still overwhelmingly focus on postpartum depression.

Depression Is Just One Piece of the Puzzle

News stories like the KUTV article typically highlight the effects of perinatal depression. But it’s not just sadness we need to be looking out for, it’s rage, shame, panic, and intrusive thoughts.  Additionally, the resources linked in the KUTV article are almost entirely depression-focused while conditions like anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and postpartum psychosis are barely mentioned.

In my practice, many mothers are hearing about postpartum anxiety for the first time. They describe overwhelming fear, racing thoughts, anger that feels out of control (rage!), or disturbing images they can’t shake. These experiences often point to anxiety or OCD, but since most resources only mention depression, many mothers feel confused or ashamed - when they are actually misdiagnosed.

The most common screening tool used in perinatal health practices or pediatricians’ offices is the Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The EPDS has only two questions that allude to perinatal anxiety and NO questions that assess rage/anger or OCD type symptoms. If a patient is not scoring “high enough” on the EPDS then they’re not getting flagged in a provider’s office for more support.

The side effect is that many families, mine included, suffer in silence.

What Makes Utah Families More Vulnerable?

I can’t help but wonder: why are the rates so high here? Here are some possibilities:

• Utah’s high birth rate and younger average age of parents
  Young parents are at increased risk for PMADs—especially when pregnancies are unintended or earlier than planned. Utah has the highest proportion of births to mothers aged 25–29 in the U.S., with over 35% of births occurring in this age group.

• Educational disruption
  I’ve worked with mothers who were on track to finish school or start careers, only to have those plans sidelined while their partners continued theirs. Becoming a stay-at-home parent adds to the isolation of being home all day with a baby and, with a culture that emphasizes cheerful self-sacrifice over authentic emotional expression, it’s no wonder Utah moms are at a breaking point.

• Cultural pressure
  My observation has been that there is precious little space in our culture to say: “I’m struggling.” Many of the families I work with feel enormous pressure to present a perfect version of motherhood—grateful, joyful, and “naturally good” at parenting. There is a cultural narrative that motherhood should feel instinctive and joyful all the time. But that’s not most peoples’s lived experience. When the reality doesn’t match that ideal, it can feel like failure.

  An added layer is the message from older generations that "we never had these problems" which can feed shame and silence. I call this “grandparent amnesia”—when older generations claim that it was never hard for them to raise kids, so you wonder if your struggle means you're just doing it wrong.

• Financial strain
  Families with one income or student debt face higher stress—and often fewer resources for mental health support.

• Lack of education and planning
  Many couples don’t know their options for postpartum care or birth support. There’s an attitude of "just do what the nurse says" during birth, and “you’ll figure it out” after baby arrives. I’m grateful it’s becoming more common for parents of all ages to seek out doula support or birth and postpartum planning support, but I wish the percentage was higher.

Where Are the Resources?

Even for those brave enough to seek help, access and education remains a major barrier. Many families don’t know where to turn or even that there is help available. They may assume postpartum care ends after the 6-week OB appointment because this is what we’re provided as a standard level of care. They may not be offered information about therapy, peer support, or alternative care like doulas, lactation consultants, or pelvic floor therapy. They may not have a community around them where people talk honestly about what parenting really looks like.

Sometimes, even when the information is out there, it’s wrapped in so much shame or “tough it out” messaging that families don’t feel safe enough to ask for what they need.

It’s Time for a Bigger Conversation

As someone who lived through postpartum anxiety, I know how powerful it is to finally hear: “You’re not failing. You’re not broken. You’re not alone.” That’s why we need to expand our education on perinatal mental health. That’s why we need to include every caregiver—moms, dads, partners, adoptive parents, grandparents. That’s why we need to stop whispering about the hard parts of parenthood and start speaking openly.

Utah mothers are struggling more than anyone else in the nation. Let’s stop pretending we don’t know why, and let’s start doing something about it.

What is Nova Doing?

• Expanding education around all perinatal mental health conditions—not just depression

• Creating support groups and individual services that reflect the full spectrum of perinatal experiences

• Acknowledging and uplifting all caregivers, not just birthing parents

• Normalizing real talk about how hard parenting can be

• Building accessible, non-shaming mental health and community support systems

🌿 Want to Learn More?

If you’d like to learn more about the full range of services we offer—from doula care and therapy to postpartum planning and community support—explore our website or follow us on Instagram @thrivewithnova for insights, resources, and upcoming events.

You’re not meant to do this alone—and we’re here to walk with you.