The Evangelische Fachverband für Frauengesundheit e.V. (EVA) has 10.000 € donated to the „100,000 Mothers at the Brandenburg Gate“ movement.
We are setting an example:
Maternal health is not a private matter.
It is a social task - and a question of responsibility for associations, companies and organizations.
We act,
because mothers perform the majority of unpaid care work,
because their physical and mental health suffers as a result
and because the structural framework conditions for families urgently need to improve.
Anyone who assumes responsibility for people - as an employer, as an association or as a social actor - also bears responsibility for the conditions under which care work is carried out.
The findings on the health situation of mothers are clear - and they affect our entire society.
The health situation of mothers is worrying
Mental load and unevenly distributed care work make people ill.
According to the 2025 hkk health report, mothers suffer significantly more frequently from physical complaints and psychological stress than fathers.
- 82 % of mothers report physical complaints
(compared to 65 % of the fathers) - 31 % of mothers report psychological stress
(compared to 16 % of the fathers) - 52 % of mothers state that they often suffer from physical pain
- 31 % regularly feel nervous, anxious or irritable
These figures do not represent individual failure.
They are an expression of structural overload.
One of the main reasons for this is the unequal distribution of tasks in everyday family life.
Mothers care mainly or exclusively:
- to do the laundry (81 %)
- for cleaning (69 %)
- for cooking (61 %)
- for shopping (66 %)
In addition, mothers take on most of the organizational responsibility in everyday family life - often between 80 and 90 % the so-called mental load tasks.
These include, among others:
- Coordinate doctor's appointments
- Organize birthday presents
- Get clothes for children
- Arrange daycare and school matters
This constant responsibility makes it difficult to switch off, prevents necessary regeneration and has a long-term negative effect on health.
- 53 % of mothers cannot switch off mentally
- 30 % often feel overwhelmed
Many mothers are also working and have additional responsibilities in their families.
Motherhood is a health risk factor - if support is lacking
The mental and physical health of mothers deteriorates measurably within the first few years after giving birth.
Studies show:
- Four years after the birth, the prescription of antidepressants
40 % higher than before pregnancy - The risk of depression is 8 % higher
- The risk of sleep disorders is 18 % higher
- The prescription of painkillers increases by 30 %
- The prescription of antibiotics is increasing by 34 %
- The risk of obesity is 41 % higher than before birth.
These developments are not an individual fate.
They are the result of structural stress - and a lack of relief systems.
A society that is dependent on care work,
must also take responsibility for the health of those who provide it.
What is needed now
A fair healthcare system recognizes the burdens of care work at an early stage, prevents health risks and creates reliable support structures.
That is why we are calling for 100,000 mothers together with the movement:
- Targeted relief systems for care workers
- Comprehensive mother-child services in inpatient medical facilities
- Strengthening preventative and advisory services for mothers
- the introduction of a national health target „Maternal health“, to systematically record requirements and further develop care services
These measures are not special benefits.
They are investments in health, participation and social stability.
Now is the time for joint action
We are donating to the „100,000 Mothers at the Brandenburg Gate“ movement,
so that the demonstration on May 9 can take place -
and thus the health and social challenges faced by mothers become visible.
Our donation is a start.
The social impact arises when many institutions act together.
That is why we invite you as an association, company or organization:
- Join us in making a donation.
- Set a visible sign for the health of mothers.
- Take responsibility for the social conditions of care work.
Every institutional support shows:
Maternal health is an issue for society as a whole. 👉 Support the „100,000 Mothers“ movement with your donation or partnership.
So that responsibility becomes joint action. Here Donations.
Sources: hkk Health Report 2025: Mental Load and Maternal Health. Results of a representative forsa survey of mothers and fathers on behalf of the hkk, Bremen 2025, https://assets.hkk.de/fileadmin/dateien/allgemeines_uebergeordnet/reports/gesundheitsreports/2025/251013_hkk_gesundheitsreport-mental-load_2025_a4_09.25_1.4.pdfDehos, Fabian T. / Paul, Marie / Schäfer, Wiebke / Süß, Karolin (2024): Time of Change: Health Effects of Motherhood. Ruhr Economic Papers #1079. Online: https://www.rwi-essen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/RWI/Publikationen/Ruhr_Economic_Papers/REP_24_1079.pdf