Ad Council Launched New Maternal Mental Health Campaign

The Secret to Motherhood initiative offers new resources for the one in five mothers facing postpartum symptoms.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Pregnancy

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The Ad Council launched a new national campaign titled The Secret to Motherhood to provide essential resources and reduce stigma for mothers facing postpartum symptoms. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Ad Council has launched a new national campaign titled The Secret to Motherhood to address the high rate of untreated maternal mental health conditions. This initiative seeks to reduce the stigma surrounding these symptoms, which affect one in five mothers.

Why it matters

Maternal mental health conditions are currently the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths. With three in four cases going untreated, this campaign aims to connect families with vital support systems.

The campaign highlights that 1 in 5 mothers experience postpartum mental health symptoms, yet 3 in 4 of these conditions go untreated. These figures serve as the baseline for the initiative's goal of increasing awareness.

The players

The Ad Council

A national non-profit organization that develops public service announcements and campaigns to raise awareness for various social issues.

Love, Your Mind

A national mental health initiative that hosts the new maternal health resources as part of its ongoing public awareness work.

The details

The campaign uses a mix of video, out-of-home advertising, radio, and digital media to reach families across the country. By utilizing research from mothers and expert input, the initiative aims to dismantle the stigma that prevents many from seeking help. The effort is part of the broader Love, Your Mind mental health initiative and features content available in both English and Spanish.

Timeline

  1. The Ad Council launched the campaign on October 1, 2026.

The Home Front

This campaign aligns with broader efforts to integrate maternal mental health support into public awareness frameworks like the Love, Your Mind initiative. It reflects a growing shift toward normalizing mental healthcare as a standard component of prenatal and postpartum family wellness.

Families should check the campaign website to identify signs of postpartum mental health symptoms that may affect their household. Use these resources to start a conversation with a healthcare provider if you or a family member are experiencing symptoms.

The takeaway

Understanding that postpartum symptoms affect 20 percent of mothers is the first step toward breaking the stigma surrounding maternal health. Families should bookmark the campaign site to keep mental health resources accessible for the postpartum period.

Further reading

For more information on navigating family health, visit the Pregnancy section.

More information

Access the full list of Maternal mental health resources on the official campaign site.

Source note: This article includes information reported by MediaPost.

Live Poll

Do you feel comfortable being open about the emotional challenges of being a new mother?