Black maternal mental health

This content mentions depression, which some people may find triggering.

We recognise a clear difference in outcomes for Black mothers in their perinatal experience compared to many other mothers across the UK. Mental health stigma and feeling judged and unheard are common barriers faced by Black mothers during pregnancy and early parenthood.  

Getting support does not always feel like a realistic option for mothers. One-fifth of Black mothers reported they didn’t visit healthcare professionals to talk about their low mood and depression [1]. In the UK, ethnic minority groups are more likely to present with mental health problems, while their mental health needs are less likely to be detected.  

It is vital that all of us in society make sure that we support women who may be silently struggling in their perinatal experience. 

Black Maternal Mental Health Week 2023 

As part of our aim to spotlight seldom-heard voices in the perinatal experience, we are proudly supporting Black Maternal Mental Health Week, a national campaign led by The Motherhood Group. This year, it takes place from 25 September to 1 October, and the theme is “Breaking Cultural Barriers”.  

Black mothers are disproportionately affected by cultural barriers that hinder their access to mental health care. This campaign shines a light on the unique challenges facing Black maternal mental health, due to factors such as historical trauma, racial discrimination, and limited access to culturally competent care. And it calls on us to address and break these barriers, to ensure the wellbeing of Black mothers and their children.   

Get involved with Black Maternal Mental Health Week by following us on Instagram or check out The Motherhood Group’s events and resources. 

How we're helping Black maternal mental health 

We promote workforce development, supportive peer networks and a shared understanding of the best practice, through our Young Mums Connect and Amplifying Maternal Voices programmes. These projects are funded by our Covid Response Programme, informed by the Foundation’s participation in the ‘Mental Health in the Pandemic’ research. 

The NHS has also recognised a need for more tailored support with a plan that, by 2024, 75% of women from minority ethnic communities will receive continuity of care throughout pregnancy and the post-natal period. 

Overall, this will improve Black mothers’ experiences of care, and their perinatal mental health outcomes. However, this is just a starting point. It’s vital that every woman receives continuity of care through their perinatal journey, allowing for better physical and mental health outcomes for mothers and their babies. Through this equity of care, we will start to see reductions in pre-term births, hospital admissions and the need for emergency intervention during labour for Black mothers. 

It is time for Black mothers’ voices to have greater influence in the care they receive, including setting commissioning priorities and informing the workforce. 

Young Mums Connect programme 

In partnership with The Motherhood Group and Nottingham City Council, we lead the Young Mums Connect programme. This work focuses on the unique needs and experiences of young mothers and their babies.  

Through this programme we’ve rolled out an evidence-based model for mothers and babies that includes: 

• Mental health care through peer support and education. 
• Training packages for health and social care teams across England. 

Amplifying Maternal Voices project 

In partnership with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, the Amplifying Maternal Voices project highlights the perinatal mental health experience of women and their families from ‘seldom-heard’ communities. It focuses on women with diverse needs, including including young mothers, single mothers and mothers from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. 

The project provides these women with greater access to influencing care, commissioning priorities, and informing workforce development through the toolkit. It also aims to increase knowledge and awareness of the impact of inequalities on perinatal outcomes for women, babies and families within perinatal service providers. 

Through this work we aim to achieve equal mental healthcare for all pregnant women and new mothers who need support. 

If you feel affected by the content you have read, please see our get help page for support.

References

1 Black, Asian and minority ethnic women and access to perinatal mental health services