Maternal Suicide Awareness Month

Key Dates

September
Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month and Maternal Suicide Awareness Month

The First Week of September
Maternal Suicide Awareness Week – social media awareness activities are encouraged

September 7 (Wednesday)
Maternal Suicide Remembrance Vigil

September 10 (Saturday)
World Suicide Prevention Day

History of Maternal Suicide Awareness Week and Remembrance Vigil

2020 Mom launched Maternal Suicide Awareness Week in 2018 during National Suicide Prevention month to raise awareness about maternal suicide, a leading cause of maternal mortality, through social media posts with maternal health partners.

During this time, 2020 Mom hosts the remembrance candlelight vigil with families impacted by maternal suicide to say the names of mothers lost.
2020 Mom’s ultimate goal is to drive action in improving reporting of maternal suicide rates in the U.S. and in the implementation of programs to prevent maternal suicide.

Maternal Suicide Awareness Week Social Media Awareness Campaign

September 4-10, 2022

Add to Calendar: Google • Apple • Outlook

Participate in the Maternal Suicide Awareness Week social media campaign by sharing social media posts to help raise awareness.

Use hashtags:
#MomsAreNotImmune
#KnowMomFacts (when sharing stats/research)
#MaternalSuicideAwareness

Maternal Suicide Facts & Graphics

Fact Sheet

Suicide is a preventable public health problem and a leading cause of maternal death in the United States.

View, download and print.

Maternal Suicide Facts Infographic

View, download and print.
View citations here.

Social Media Campaign Memes

View images you can post throughout the week on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram here.

Prefer not to Create/Post your own content?

Like/Share 2020 Mom’s Maternal Suicide Awareness social media posts from:
Facebook: @2020mom, Twitter: @2020MomProject, Instagram @2020_Mom, and LinkedIn @2020Mom

#MomsAreNotImmune Maternal Suicide Vigil

Remembrance Vigil
Wednesday, September 7th
5:30-6pm PT / 8:30-9pm ET

Add to Calendar: Google • Apple • Outlook
Register Now to view on Zoom or Watch LIVE on Facebook

Join Kristen Garzone from The Believe KNT Foundation and host of the 2022 vigil to light a candle to honor all the mothers lost to maternal suicide and honored on the Remembrance Wall.
Light a candle in remembrance of mothers lost.
- Help raise awareness and consider posting your own photo holding a lit candle on social media the evening of September 7th, using hashtags: #MaternalSuicideAwareness #MomsAreNotImmune #KnowMomFacts

Maternal Suicide Awareness Webinar
with the CDC

Wednesday, September 28th, 11am-12:30pm PT
Register Now

Maternal suicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality. With efforts made by the policy organization, 2020 Mom, and the CDC, the U.S. has made significant progress on tracking and reporting maternal suicide rates. However, the work to identify maternal suicides is left to the states through reviews conducted in Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) settings. State-based Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs) are generally charged with facilitating change based on MMRC findings.

This webinar will cover:

A general overview of maternal suicide statistics in the US
Updated data from the CDC on Maternal Mortality Review Committees and pregnancy-related suicide deaths
How states are improving suicide detection in their MMRC process, including the role of informant interviews in identifying maternal suicide deaths, a process adopted by the Delaware MMRC and others
Colorado’s latest report illustrates suicide is the top cause of maternal death, and efforts the PQC is championing
Remaining challenges and opportunities