# Maternal depression and child health risks > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/maternal-depression-and-child-health-risks > Updated: 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2. Research studies have identified significant links between maternal depression and various health risks for children. A Rutgers-led study published in JAMA Network Open analyzed over 414,000 births in New Jersey, finding that infants whose mothers reported depressive symptoms immediately following delivery faced a higher risk of mortality. The study reported an infant mortality rate of 7.2 deaths per 1,000 births for mothers with depressive symptoms, compared to two deaths per 1,000 for those without, representing nearly three times the risk before the first birthday. In a separate study published in PLOS Medicine, researchers tracked over 167,000 children in Wales and found that prenatal maternal depression is linked to increased risks of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorder. The findings indicated that children of depressed mothers had a higher rate of special educational needs, noting that the risks associated with maternal depression must be weighed against potential risks from antidepressant medication. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-30: Maternal prenatal depression linked to neurodevelopmental risks in children A study of 167,000 children in Wales suggests prenatal maternal depression is linked to higher risks of neurodevelopmental disorders, regardless of antidepressant use. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/maternal-prenatal-depression-linked-to-neurodevelopmental-risks-in-children ### 2026-09-17: Rutgers study links maternal depressive symptoms to higher infant mortality A Rutgers-led study of over 414,000 New Jersey births found that infants of mothers with postpartum depressive symptoms have nearly three times the risk of dying before their first birthday. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rutgers-study-links-maternal-depressive-symptoms-to-higher-infant-mortality --- Cite as: Maternal depression and child health risks. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/maternal-depression-and-child-health-risks