Invisible burdens: reframing maternal mental health as a core priority in conflict-affected and low-resource settings

Maternal mental health remains an overlooked dimension of global women's health, particularly in conflict-affected and low-resource settings where psychological distress is intensified by poverty, displacement, violence, gender inequality, and fragile health systems. Although maternal health agendas have achieved progress in reducing mortality, survival-focused approaches often fail to capture the psychological burdens that shape women's well-being, caregiving capacity, and intergenerational outcomes. This Perspective argues that maternal mental health should be reframed as a core component of maternal health rather than a secondary concern. Drawing on a life-course and gender-responsive perspective, we propose a conceptual framework linking conflict and structural inequality with social determinants, maternal psychological outcomes, and consequences for mothers and children. We highlight the need for integrated health-system responses that combine mental health screening, psychosocial support, community-based care, and gender-responsive policies to achieve equitable and sustainable improvements in women's health.