Maternal health in Europe is under growing strain, with a major new study revealing widespread mental health challenges, career setbacks and work-life balance pressures faced by mothers across the continent, including in the UK. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 10% of pregnant women and 13% of new mothers worldwide experience mental health conditions, most commonly depression. Workplace pressure combined with childcare challenges has intensified the problem. Expanded parental leave, flexible working arrangements, affordable childcare and accessible, stigma-free mental health support must become standard, not optional. Integrating mental health services into routine maternity care and improving workplace protections, they argue, would benefit not only mothers, but children and society as a whole.