Mental health statistics: family and parenting Starting a family is a milestone in many people's lives. It can also be a stressful time and many parents experience mental ill health. Mental ill health of parents can have a negative impact on the development of their children. But this is not always the case. Approximately 68% of women and 57% of men with mental health problems are parents. 1 The most common mental health problems experienced during pregnancy and after birth are anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 2 Women experiencing maternal mental health problems: 3 Postpartum psychosis: 2 per 1,000 Serious mental ill health: 2 per 1,000 Severe depressive illness: 30 per 1,000 Mild-moderate depressive illness and anxiety states: 100-150 per 1,000 PTSD: 30 per 1,000 Adjustment disorders and distress: 150-300 per 1,000. The effect of poor parental mental health on children Poor maternal and paternal mental health has been associa...