The perinatal period (pregnancy and the first postpartum year) is a time of vulnerability to the onset or worsening of psychiatric symptoms or disorders in mothers, which can lead to suicide. Based on data from the latest report of the Confidential National Survey on Maternal Deaths in France and key findings from the international literature, the objective of this article is: i) to present and discuss the main epidemiological data regarding maternal suicides (frequency, characteristics, risk factors, preventability), ii) to list the main screening tools and preventive interventions. In France, during the 2013–2015 period, suicides were the leading known cause of maternal deaths during the perinatal period (13.4% of all deaths), representing 1.4 women per 100,000 live births (95% confidence interval (95% CI): [1.0–2.0]). The majority of suicides (77%) occurred after the 42nd postpartum day, with a median around the 4th postpartum month. The various risk factors identified in France and internationally included: precarious living conditions, isolation, traumatic life events, a history of mental health conditions, and complications during pregnancy or childbirth. National and international data also show that a large proportion of these deaths could be prevented. Among prevention strategies, early and repeated screening of at-risk women—specifically those with known or emerging psychiatric disorders—and a stepped-care approach are key. In France, the government’s “First 1,000 Days” initiative, along with mandatory early prenatal and postnatal consultations, are steps in this direction. Nevertheless, only a nationwide and universal implementation of these measures will be able to address this major issue.