Addressing the Risk of Midwife Turnover: Opening Opportunities to Learn Mental Care for Caregivers Themselves

In Japan, where suicide is the leading cause of maternal death, the mental burden on midwives, who stand on the front lines, has become a critical issue. However, there have been few opportunities to systematically learn about care for the caregivers themselves. With Midwife Inc. (Headquarters: Osaka, Osaka Prefecture; CEO: Mizuki Kishihata; hereinafter "With Midwife") is addressing this challenge by opening up opportunities to learn mental care for caregivers as part of its reskilling program for midwives, "License says."

Background While midwifery is a noble profession dedicated to witnessing the birth of life, it is also constantly accompanied by significant mental strain. Currently, about 90% of midwives in Japan work in perinatal medical settings such as hospitals. There, they deal with delicate and heavy issues on a daily basis, including situations involving both birth and death, as well as cases involving sexual violence or high social risks. Furthermore, many women experience mental health issues during pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing due to hormonal imbalances and changes in their living environments, and midwives are at the forefront of providing that care. In particular, postpartum depression remains a major social issue. Despite Japan's high level of perinatal medical technology by global standards, suicide is the leading cause of maternal death, and there is a growing need for support for paternal postpartum mental health as well. Under these circumstances, midwives themselves often face intense stress and fatigue, which frequently leads to mental health issues and turnover. Additionally, because it is a profession that requires "being there" for others, there is a structural challenge where midwives unconsciously internalize emotions and become exhausted. ■ Features of the Seminar Based on this background, "Mental Care for Caregivers 2026" will systematically teach the knowledge necessary for midwives to work long and healthy careers, including: ・How caregivers specifically experience mental fatigue ・Perspectives for protecting the caregiver's own mental health ・Self-care and engagement methods that can be practiced in the field This seminar has received significant feedback in previous years, with participants stating it was "a chance to reflect on myself" and "changed how I engage with others from the next day." We have decided to hold it again in 2026. April is a time when many people begin their careers as new midwives or face changes in their work environments. We believe that having a "perspective of self-protection" at such a time will greatly influence their future careers as midwives. ■ Instructor Comment