World Maternal Mental Health Day | May 2025
Maternal mental health is not just a personal issue, it’s a workplace issue. And for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this truth carries unique weight.
Each year, World Maternal Mental Health Day brings to light the often-silenced mental health challenges experienced during pregnancy and postpartum. While large corporations may have maternity packages, counselling schemes, and HR departments to manage these transitions, SMEs often struggle to provide the same level of support. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do better.
At Sleek HR, we help SMEs embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into their workplace culture. And this includes creating workplaces that acknowledge, support, and proactively address maternal mental health.
The Silent Struggle
- 1 in 5 women will experience perinatal or postpartum mental health issues.
- Many mothers return to work before they are mentally ready due to financial pressure or lack of flexible policies.
- Stigma, fear of being seen as “less committed,” or job insecurity stops many from speaking up.
These challenges are often magnified in smaller teams where there may be less HR infrastructure, fewer resources, or a lack of awareness around best practices.
Why SMEs Must Pay Attention
SMEs power much of the UK’s economy; employing over 60% of the workforce. When maternal mental health is overlooked:
- Productivity drops
- Retention suffers
- Workplace morale declines
But with intentional policies, empathy, and support, SMEs can become leaders in inclusive workplace practices, not lag behind.
What Can SMEs Do?
Here are five practical steps your business can take today:
Start with empathy: Train line managers to recognise signs of maternal mental distress and respond with sensitivity.
Rethink your leave policies: Even if you can’t match corporate packages, ensure your policies are clear, fair, and supportive.
Offer flexible return-to-work options: Phased returns, remote work options, or job-sharing arrangements make a world of difference.
Create a support circle: Link mothers returning to work with others who’ve done the same. Peer support reduces isolation.
Review your DEI strategy: Maternal mental health must be part of your inclusion agenda, not an afterthought.
Our Commitment at Sleek HR
We work with SME leaders across industries to build HR strategies rooted in empathy, equity, and real-world practicality. We believe that when we support mothers, we build healthier teams and more resilient businesses.
This World Maternal Mental Health Day, we invite SMEs to lead with compassion, and let that be your competitive advantage.
Let’s build a future of work where no mother has to choose between her mental health and her job.
If you’re an SME leader ready to support maternal wellbeing in your workplace, let’s talk;
Contact us today: hello@sleekhr.co.uk | +44(0)3301336377 | www.sleekhr.co.uk
