Dr. H. Steven Moffic, MD, has spent his career studying the relationship between mothers and psychiatry. Recent surveys have shown that a significant number of young women prioritize their careers over having children, with only a quarter citing childbirth as a top priority. This shift in priorities has led to low birth rates in the United States. In the past, psychiatry had a particularly harsh view of mothers, but how has this attitude changed over time?
Dr. Moffic is a renowned psychiatrist who has focused on cultural and ethical aspects of psychiatry throughout his career. He is now retired and practices as a private pro bono community psychiatrist. Known for his prolific writing and speaking, he has authored a weekday column titled “Psychiatric Views on the Daily News” and a weekly video series “Psychiatry & Society” since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. His contributions to the field have been recognized through various awards, including the 2024 Abraham Halpern Humanitarian Award from the American Association for Social Psychiatry and accolades from both the American Psychiatric Association and National Alliance on Mental Illness for his advocacy on mental health issues such as climate change, physician burnout, and xenophobia.
Currently, Dr. Moffic is editing the final book in a four-volume series on religions and psychiatry for Springer. The series covers topics such as Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, Christianity, and Eastern religions and spirituality. Additionally, he serves on the Editorial Board of Psychiatric Times, further contributing to the field of psychiatry’s intersection with society.
In conclusion, Dr. Moffic’s work delves into the complex relationship between mothers and psychiatry throughout history while also exploring current trends in attitudes towards motherhood and childbirth. His contributions to the field have been recognized through various awards for his advocacy work on mental health issues like climate change, physician burnout, and xenophobia while also working on publishing books that touch upon religious beliefs within psychoanalysis
