When I think of these two words together, what comes to mind is not much and I'd like to believe that in itself is alarming. How often do we hear people talking about the mental health of mothers?
I am sure when I ask that, many of us must be thinking of how resilient, courageous and compassionate our mothers are and how that speaks for itself in terms of maternal mental health.
But that's the thing. We often see motherhood being associated with self-sacrifice and compromise in a way that is so glorified that we start to see it as a normal process every mother must go through. When a mother puts the needs of her family first every single time, when she is willing to give up on her own dreams to help fulfill those of her children's, when she hustles day and night to strike that balance between work and household commitments, all we see is a mother being a mother. And while that is appreciated and painted as a beautiful image, so often on Mother's Day, we fail to see just how flawed that glorification in itself is.
Research has shown that 20 % of mothers in developing countries experience clinical depression after childbirth.
Maternal mental health is identified as a major public health challenge across the Globe today. The impact of this has not only been observed in the physical health and overall life satisfaction of mothers but also on the development of children.
What we need to be talking about, making relatable reels about and even thinking about at this point is not how much mothers constantly sacrifice, compromise and succumb to motherhood as their only identity, but about how they are individuals in their own rights who deserve to prioritize their mental health, to live their dreams, to take days off and to choose for themselves.
What can be the first step towards this shift? CONVERSATION. I think the first step to bringing this shift in our mindset is to invite mothers to speak up. There is a serious need to create safe spaces where mothers are able to reach out and seek help from.
As for the rest of us, the most important thing we can do is to let mothers speak for their mental health, to work towards creating those safe spaces for them and to support them on their journey. We must all work together to demystify the glory and to build healthier definitions of motherhood.
The journey of motherhood is full of hardships and sleepless nights just as full it is of unconditional love and self-transformation. I think it is time we acknowledge it for both and create a space of support and understanding instead of ignorance and glorification.
Yorumlar