Gibson Mhakam [email protected]
LACK of emotional support, gender-based violence, economic pressures and stigma are exposing expectant and new mothers to mental health challenges, putting them at risk of depression, anxiety and other psychological disorders, a clinical psychologist has said.
Speaking during a media café on maternal mental health organised by the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) at a local hotel on Thursday, Ingutsheni Central Hospital clinical psychologist Miss Nonhlanhla Bonita Ngwenya said maternal mental health was critical not only to the wellbeing of mothers but also to the healthy development of their babies and the stability of families.
Miss Ngwenya said mental health challenges during pregnancy and after childbirth could compromise a mother’s ability to care for herself, her baby and the wider family.
“When a mother is depressed, whether she is expecting or has just given birth, her ability to care for her family becomes compromised. We always say there is no health without mental health. Once mental health is compromised, she may not be eating or sleeping properly, which also affects her physical health,” she said.
She said inadequate support for maternal mental health exposed women to conditions such as generalised anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder with peripartum onset and postnatal psychosis.
Miss Ngwenya warned that postnatal psychosis could be particularly distressing, as it may affect a mother’s ability to remain with and care for her baby, placing an additional burden on other caregivers.
She called for an end to the stigma surrounding maternal mental health, particularly misconceptions that psychological disorders during pregnancy and after childbirth were foreign conditions or a sign of weakness.
“It is important for us as Africans to get rid of the stigma that this is a white woman’s disease. It is not un-African for women to experience mental health challenges,” she said.
Miss Ngwenya said women who had experienced pregnancy and childbirth should openly share their experiences, including the challenges they encountered, to help prepare and support other mothers.
She also urged men to play an active role in supporting their partners during pregnancy and after delivery, saying their responsibility extended beyond caring for the newborn.
“It’s very important for fathers to also teach young men that when their spouses are going through something like this, this is their child together. They must be present, not just for the baby, but also for the mother,” she said.
Miss Ngwenya identified gender-based violence before and during pregnancy, unwanted pregnancies, genetic predisposition, pre-existing mental health conditions and economic hardships as some of the factors contributing to maternal mental health challenges.
She said financial difficulties, workplace pressures and limited access to maternity leave could increase stress among expectant mothers, making them more vulnerable to psychological distress.
She also cautioned against religious and cultural practices that discourage women from seeking professional help, saying spiritual support should complement rather than replace medical care.
“Whilst we do not take away the importance of religion and spirituality, we are advocating for a balance. Human beings have biological, social and psychological aspects as well, and neglecting these can compromise mental health,” she said.
Miss Ngwenya said stigma remained a major barrier to accessing treatment, as fear of being judged often prevented women from discussing their experiences or seeking assistance.
She, however, welcomed progress in raising mental health awareness and expanding professional services in public hospitals, saying more psychologists were now available than in previous years.
She encouraged teenage mothers and other women experiencing psychological distress to seek assistance at public health institutions, where mental health services are provided free of charge.
“All they have to do is bring their hospital books and we will attend to them. We will give them review dates and they can come back for assistance,” she said.
She said personalised treatment plans involving mental health nurses and psychologists were important in ensuring that each woman received appropriate care.
