The Roots Of Maternal Mental Health (2021)
“If we want to address maternal mental health we have to start back to the maternal experience she had when being born.”
This conversation between Dr. Denese Shervington, IWES' Founder/CEO and Dr. Lisa Richardson, IWES' Chief Impact Officer, was recorded during Black Maternal Mental Health Week 2021. They discuss what mental health is, the impact of lived experiences of oppression on mental health, and differences in mental health for birthing people before, during and after birth.
They also discuss hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy and how that may increase vulnerability to mental health conditions, as well as potential helpful medications for birthing people experiencing depression and anxiety and how to access these resources. Although this conversation celebrates and reflects on Black Maternal Mental Health Week, it is also a reminder to keep in mind that the issues and struggles for justice and joy for all Black women and birthing people go on beyond that particular week.
You can follow the work of IWES' Maternal and Child Health division as we aim to improve health outcomes for Black birthing people and their children in the Greater New Orleans area through research, information sharing and programming, in partnership with the Birthmark Doula Collective and the National Birth Equity Collaborative, as well as many other providers and birthing experts.