One of the biggest struggles I faced was after I had my first child. No one prepared me for what I was about to deal with having a new baby. Was it just the baby blues? I didn’t have any mental health support systems in place.
I started blogging to help with my postpartum depression however I wasn’t talking about my postpartum depression. Was that confusing? I hope that wasn’t too confusing. Because I was talking about a bunch of other random stuff. I guess I figured if I tried to act like everything was okay then it would be. And nobody was the wiser. They saw what I allowed them to see and nobody dug any deeper. My white, male doctor was the only person who looked me right in the face and said “you don’t seem like yourself.” Yes, this white male doctor was the one who brought up awareness of maternal mental health. I had no clue what he was referring to. I hadn’t even heard of Black maternal mental health week.
There is a significant lack of awareness and understanding surrounding maternal mental health (including perinatal mental health problems.) This contributes to stigmatization and prevents mothers from seeking the help they need.
What is maternal mental health week?
Maternal Mental Health Week (mmh awareness week) was started by the perinatal mental health partnership UK (pmhp UK.) It is held annually in the first week of May. This week-long campaign is dedicated to raising awareness about the maternal mental health care challenges that women face during pregnancy and postpartum. As well as promoting access to mental health resources and support for mothers and families.
What is Black maternal health week?
Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) is a week-long event that takes place annually in the United States during the week of April 11-17. It is an initiative led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), a maternal health advocacy organization founded and led by Black women. The goal is to bring attention to the unique maternal health challenges faced by Black mothers in the United States. Also to promote policy change and advocacy efforts aimed at addressing these challenges. You can see more of what they are doing on their social media platforms by clicking here.
What is the Black Mamas Matter Alliance?
The Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) is a maternal health advocacy organization in the United States that was founded in 2016. BMMA is led by Black women and works to improve maternal health outcomes for Black women, their families, and communities. The organization’s mission is to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift the culture to improve Black maternal health, rights, and justice in the healthcare systems.
BMMA works to address the systemic racism, discrimination, and inequities that contribute to the disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity experienced by Black women in the US. The organization focuses on promoting policy and advocacy efforts that address the root causes of these disparities and improve access to quality maternal health care, including reproductive and sexual health services.
In addition to leading the annual Black Maternal Health Week campaign, BMMA conducts research, provides training and technical assistance, and engages in community organizing and policy advocacy at the local, state, and national levels. The organization also partners with a wide range of stakeholders, including healthcare providers, researchers, advocates, and policymakers, to advance its mission and goals.
What should everyone know about Black maternal mental health during and after pregnancy?
Black women in the US are more likely to experience pregnancy complications and maternal mortality than women of other races or ethnicities. BMHW aims to raise awareness about these disparities and to highlight the importance of improving access to quality healthcare, culturally responsive care, and support services for Black moms throughout the perinatal period. I felt it was important to share because there are other mothers with similar experiences who often feel alone or don’t have a support system.
During my second pregnancy, I hated even going to my prenatal appointments. I never felt like I was being listened to by any of the health professionals who saw me. What should have been a safe space ended up being a huge stressor for me. My mental health challenges started during pregnancy.
Why is Black maternal mental health important?
Even though Maternal mental health week and Black maternal mental health week are both observances focused on raising awareness about maternal mental health for new mothers. Black maternal mental health week is a more recent observance that was established specifically to address the mental health needs of Black mothers. While both observances aim to increase awareness and education around maternal mental health. Black maternal mental health week places a particular emphasis on addressing the disparities that exist in mental healthcare for Black mothers. As well as promoting the development of culturally responsive and trauma-informed approaches to maternal mental healthcare. This also includes systemic racism and discrimination in healthcare.
What are some common maternal mental health issues?
- Postpartum depression (PPD)
- Anxiety disorders in pregnancy and the postpartum period (perinatal mood)
- Perinatal OCD
- Psychosis
How to support mothers with maternal mental health disorders:
- Screening for early detection
- Improving access to care for all women
- Providing education about perinatal mental health disorders
- Encouraging social support groups
- A simple call to check in
How Can You Get Involved?
During BMHW, a variety of events and activities take place, including webinars, community conversations, social media campaigns, and advocacy efforts. The week serves as a platform for Black women, families, healthcare providers, advocates, and policymakers to come together to discuss and address the issues facing Black maternal health. This year’s theme is “Our bodies belong to us: restoring Black autonomy & joy.” You can join the insightful national conversation at any virtual event.
Maternal Mental Health Week: Raising Awareness for Moms’ Emotional Well-being
Motherhood has been an amazing journey for me, but it has also been overwhelming and stressful. And not just for myself but also for my family. I didn’t have the access to the resources that I needed to thrive both physically and emotionally. Hopefully, by sharing more of my personal stories and with organizations like BMMA and BMHW. We can work towards creating a world where Black mothers and Black families feel empowered and supported on their journey to parenthood.
[…] can agree that good mental health care is vital to our well-being. As a matter of fact, I recently prioritized my emotional health care and started therapy. However, when it comes to Black mental health resources they are not the same. […]