Why Black Maternal Mental Health Matters | Joy • Justice • Journey

Black Maternal Mental Health matters. 🤎 In this video, I’m talking about Black maternal mental health from the perspective of a Black African mother, psychiatrist and founder of Mind & Motherhood. As we mark the end of Black Maternal Mental Health Week 2026 (21–27 September), I’m reflecting on this year’s theme: JOY • JUSTICE • JOURNEY Black maternal mental health conversations are often centred around disparities, trauma and the barriers Black mothers can experience when accessing care. Those conversations matter. But Black motherhood is also about joy, identity, culture, faith, family, community, resilience and connection. In this video, we explore: 🤎 Why Black maternal mental wellness matters 🤎 The importance of joy in Black motherhood 🤎 Why being listened to and believed matters 🤎 Cultural expectations around being a “strong” mother 🤎 How culture and identity can influence our experiences of motherhood 🤎 Why maternal mental health is a journey, not just a single postnatal check 🤎 The importance of culturally sensitive and compassionate mental healthcare 🤎 Why Black mothers deserve support before they reach crisis point 🤎 What we can all do to support Black mothers As a psychiatrist and a mother of four, I believe we need to make space for the whole woman behind the mother. You can love your children deeply and still struggle. You can be grateful and still need help. You can be strong and still need support. And you deserve to experience motherhood with joy, safety and softness. Black mothers deserve to thrive, not simply survive. 00:00 Black Maternal Mental Health Matters 00:35 Why this conversation is personal 01:00 JOY: Black motherhood beyond survival 02:50 JUSTICE: Being heard and believed 05:25 JOURNEY: Every mother’s experience is different 07:30 Culture, identity and the pressure to be strong 09:05 What Mind & Motherhood stands for 10:15 A message to Black mothers 11:45 Join the conversation 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION What is one thing you wish more people understood about Black mothers and maternal mental health? Share your thoughts in the comments. Your experience may help another mother feel less alone. ⸻ ABOUT MIND & MOTHERHOOD Mind & Motherhood is a space for honest conversations about motherhood, identity, mental health, burnout and wellbeing. Created by Dr Ann, a mum of four, psychiatrist and mental wellbeing advocate - Mind & Motherhood explores the realities of being a woman and mother while navigating work, relationships, culture, identity and the expectations we place on ourselves. Subscribe for more conversations about: • Maternal mental health • Motherhood and identity • Burnout and the mental load • Women’s mental health • Immigrant motherhood and living between cultures • Anxiety and overwhelm • Postnatal mental health • Self-care and wellbeing • Parenting and emotional wellbeing 🔔 Subscribe to Mind & Motherhood for more honest, compassionate conversations about the woman behind the mother. ⸻ ⚠️ IMPORTANT This video is for education and general information and does not replace individual medical or mental health advice. If you are struggling with your mental health during pregnancy or after having a baby, please speak with your GP, midwife, health visitor or another trusted healthcare professional. In England, specialist NHS perinatal mental health services are available for women with moderate to severe or complex perinatal mental health difficulties. (NHS England⁠) ⸻ #blackmaternalhealth #maternalmentalhealth #perinatalmentalhealth #blackmothers #blackmotherhood #postpartummentalhealth #womensmentalhealth #africanmothers